CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GROUNDWATER BETWEEN EL AGAMI AND EL HAMMAM AREA, NORTHWEST COAST OF EGYPT

The present investigation has been conducted to characterize the groundwater resources in the area between El Agami and El Hammam, north-west coast of Egypt and to evaluate its quality as important factors of reliability. A combined tool, based on hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes, has been functioned for conducting the investigation. The groundwater under study is dominated by a moderate to high stage of mineralization, where TDS ranges from 2000-5000 ppm. The major ions were Na, Mg , Cl and SO4 and the major hypothetical salts were NaCl, Na2SO4, MgSO4, CaSO4 and Ca(HCO3)2.The major sources of groundwater recharge in the studied aquifers come mainly from Nile water system (irrigation, drainage, mallahat, Mariut) and winter rainfall. Sea water intrusion, if present, is local and not so effective in comparison with other sources. The studied area combines features from both western delta hydrological system and coastal zone. The fresh water recharge in the studied area is developed into more saline water under the effects of:1-Leaching and dissolution of terrestrial and marine salts (calcite, dolomite, gypsum, halite). 2-Evaporation and/or mixing with evaporated water (mallahat, lagoonal, sabkhas and salt marches).3-Ion exchange / inverse ion exchange. Intrusion of little and local sea water was carried out at the very close proximity to the coast