Asmoay et al. (2025) Assessing groundwater degradation in the Middle Eocene aquifer, West Mallawi, Egypt (2016–2024): A hydrochemical and remote sensing approach

Identification

• Journal: Journal of African Earth Sciences
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-18
• Authors: Ahmed Asmoay, Ibrahim Mousa, Eltaher M. Shams, Rashad Sawires
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2025.105892

Research Groups

• Geological Science Department, Advanced Materials Technology and Mineral Resources Research Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
• Savola Food Group, Alexandria United Company for Land Reclamation (AUCR), Cairo, Egypt
• Natural Resources and Energy Department, Damanhur University, Beheira, Egypt
• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
• Department of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Short Summary

This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater quality and hydrochemical characteristics in the Middle Eocene aquifer of West Mallawi, Egypt, from 2016 to 2024. Findings reveal significant groundwater degradation, including increased salinity and a decline in overall water quality, primarily driven by anthropogenic activities and land-use changes.

Objective

• To assess the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater quality and hydrochemical characteristics in the Middle Eocene aquifer of West Mallawi, El Minya Governorate, Egypt, using comparative datasets from 2016 to 2024.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Middle Eocene aquifer, West Mallawi, El Minya Governorate, Egypt.
• Temporal Scale: 2016 to 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Water Quality Index (WQI), Langelier–Ludwig diagrams, multivariate analyses (Principal Component Analysis - PCA, hierarchical clustering), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)-based land-use/land-cover analysis.
• Data sources: 59 groundwater samples (analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and major ions), Sentinel-2 satellite imagery.

Main Results

• Groundwater levels slightly declined from 98 meters in 2016 to 97 meters in 2024.
• Groundwater pH shifted towards more alkaline conditions, increasing from 7.6 to 7.9.
• Salinity increased, with electrical conductivity rising from 0.1692 S/m to 0.1784 S/m and total dissolved solids increasing from 1083 mg/L to 1142 mg/L.
• Chloride concentrations more than doubled, exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) limits, while sulfate concentrations declined.
• Overall water quality deteriorated, with the Water Quality Index changing from predominantly “Excellent” in 2016 to mainly “Good” in 2024; several samples indicated poor quality for consumption (WQI > 100).
• Hydrochemical facies remained dominated by the SO4·Cl–Na type.
• Multivariate analyses confirmed evaporation, ion exchange, and intensifying anthropogenic inputs as the primary drivers of groundwater salinization and contamination.
• Remote sensing analysis revealed rapid urban expansion into agricultural zones and a marked reduction in vegetative cover, establishing a link between land-use change and groundwater degradation.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive spatiotemporal assessment of groundwater quality degradation over an 8-year period in a critical arid region.
• Integrates hydrochemical analysis, Water Quality Index, multivariate statistical techniques, and remote sensing (Sentinel-2 imagery and NDVI) to identify the complex drivers of aquifer deterioration.
• Highlights the urgent need for stricter groundwater abstraction controls, contamination safeguards, and integrated land–water management strategies for sustainable water security in arid environments.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Asmoay2025Assessing,
  author = {Asmoay, Ahmed and Mousa, Ibrahim and Shams, Eltaher M. and Sawires, Rashad},
  title = {Assessing groundwater degradation in the Middle Eocene aquifer, West Mallawi, Egypt (2016–2024): A hydrochemical and remote sensing approach},
  journal = {Journal of African Earth Sciences},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2025.105892},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2025.105892}
}