الفهرس 
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Abstract
A total number of twenty water samples were collected monthly including 15 groundwater (samples 1 to 15) and 5 surface kaam Canal water (samples 16 to 20). The study duration was from May 2013 to April 2014. The variation of water depth values shows increasing in water depth landward.
The annual pH values of the collected ground water samples range between 6.7 (slightly acidic) and 7.2 (slightly alkaline); while that of surface water range between 7.1 and 7.6 (slightly alkaline). The seasonal variation in pH values is dominantly slightly alkaline and becomes slightly acidic near the shoreline. The surface water samples of kaam Canal have relatively higher pH compared with that from different wells.
Electrical conductivity values are mostely high in the summer and autumn. Total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations of the ground water varied between 9775 ppm, near the Mediterranean Sea, and 1540 ppm landward. The surface water samples of Kaam Canal (close to the Mediterranean Sea) have high TDS content. This increase could be a result of seawater intrusion that is triggered by the increased consumption of ground water.
Summer show relatively higher temperature of almost the samples. The studied ground water samples have temperature values ranging between 25.6 0C landward and 22.9 0C near the Mediterranean Sea. Relatively lower temperature and higher salinity are observed nearly near the shore line. The gradual decreasing in temperature values toward the Mediterranean Sea may indicate the effect of the relatively cooler seawater intrusion along the coastal area.
The turbidity of the studied surface water samples show the highest turbidity during Winter Season. The studied water samples lack carbonate ion and show low contents of bicarbonate. Potassium content distribution is nearly similar to that of sodium content. However, samples have relatively high values of EC shows high values of Calcium, Sodium, Chloride, Magnesium and Sulphate ions. The gradual increase of chloride content seaward may be due mainly to saltwater intrusion. The distribution pattern of calcium content shows increase in calcium content landward. This may give an indication about its source mainly from the land. The high values of calcium may be related to the lithology of water bearing sediments and surface calcareous materials which is dominant along the study area.
High values of total hardness was observed during summer. It could be due to the low water level and high rate of evaporation during summer. More Ammonia is recorded in the Kaam Canal water samples and relatively high quantity is observed during spring season. This shows more bacterial activity in the spring season as favourable season for their growth.
The Kaam Canal surface water samples have relatively higher BOD values. The summer and autumn have relatively more BOD value. The level of BOD in the water samples of Kaam Canal more or less equal or lesser than the normal value of WHO standard. This indicates no mixing of sewage or industry effluents in the Kaam Canal. Spring season shows mostly relatively high dissolved oxygen.
Kaam Canal surface water samples have relatively more dissolved oxygen than the ground water samples. This more dissolved oxygen in the Kaam Canal water may be due to the presence of open and in direct sunlight with an increased photosynthetic activity of the organisms present that aquatic system. Rain water mixing may also add the amount of dissolved oxygen in surface water of Kaam Canal.
Cadmium level in all the water samples are below the normal international standards of WHO. Copper not detected (show zero level) in all the studied water samples. Also, the studied water samples indicate zero amount of chromium (not detected) in all the analysed samples. This indicates that, there are no such industries which emit chromium containing wastes in the studied area. Also, There is no detectable amount of Lead. This shows that, there is no smelting or mining industry which releases this poisonous element.
Most of the studied water samples have more level of Nickel during Autumn. The increase in Nickel level may be due to the leaching of soil and the nearby area. Detectable quantity of Nickel is noted in the samples of Kaam Canal than the well waters. High level is noticed in winter and spring seasons.
Total coliforms are more in the waters from the Kaam Canal than the waters from the different wells specially during summer and autumn where relatively higher contamination are observed. The higher number in the summer may be attributed to more growth due to the presence of more suitable environment for multiplication. The less number in winter indicates that the temperature in the area are not suitable for its multiplication. The coliform bacteria may be origin from human or animal waste contamination or sometimes it may origin from the soil. Moreover, it is observed that, there are number of wells (6, 10 and 13) are free from bacterial contamination. The number of total coliform bacteria in the water of different wells in the study area is under the world standards for Drinking water quality. But it is more in the water samples of Kaam Canal. The presence of more coliforms in the Kaam Canal waters may be related to the Kaam Canal water which may polluted by the waste of animal or human during the study period.
Faecal Streptococci analysis shows that, it also under the limit of world drinking water standard in the samples of well waters. But the Kaam Canal water samples have more than the limit of 2 cfu/ml. The presence of faecal streptococci is an indicator of the presence or mixing of animal wastes. This result shows that, water samples from the Kaam Canal contaminated with animal wastes which may be due to lack of protection in the storage and may be by the run-off water during rainy seasons.
The anionic and cationic combinations revealed mainly Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, and Calcium Sulphate water types for the study water samples. The hypothetical salt assemblages for the study surface and ground water show that, Sodium Chloride is ranging between (14.36 - 45.06 %), Magnesium Chloride is ranging between (6.63 - 46.50 %), and Calcium Sulphate is ranging between (9.70 - 41.70 %). Moreover, Calcium Bicarbonate is encountered in all the analyzed water samples and is ranging between (2.14 - 16.28 %).
The cation distribution indicates mostly no dominant type, while in the anion triangle the water samples plotted towards the Cl- corner indicating chloride type water.
The study water samples are plotted mostly in the subareas of the diamond shaped field indicating that, the alkali earths (Ca++ + Mg++) exceed the alkali elements (Na+ + K+), no one cation-anion pair exceeds 50 % and the study water samples posses secondary TDS character (where SO4-- + Cl- exceed CO3-- + HCO3-), which may be linked mainly to seawater intrusion along the studied coastal area.
The major ion analyses of water were plotted in the Stiff diagram. The waters of the study area are mainly classified into Calcium chloride, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Sulphate and Calcium Bicarbonate.
The studied water wells show high TDS (1540 ppm to 9775 ppm). It is not fit for drinking use but is mostly suitable for consumption by livestock except poultry where its permissible limit is 2860 ppm.
The surface water of Kaam Canal and the ground water of the study area are grouped mainly within the C4S1class, indicate very high salinity and low sodium. Therefore, may be used as a source of irrigation provided with a good drainage and soil management. On the other hand, some water samples of the surface water are grouped within the C4S2 class, where its highest SAR value indicating high salinity water and medium sodium. Therefore, cannot be used for all soils and is very bad for irrigation purpose.