Assessment of the Impacts of Groundwater Overdrafting on Water Quality and Environmental Degradation in the Fares Area, Aswan, Egypt

Groundwater contamination and the environmental impact of groundwater uprising due to overpumping are critical issues in Egypt. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and the environmental impacts of groundwater uprising in the Fares area of Aswan, Egypt. The environmental impacts of the uprising groundwater level were investigated through field observations and chemical analyses of the surrounding water resources. The results revealed that the use of flood irrigation systems in the upper, newly reclaimed land area is the main cause of the uprising groundwater levels, which causes remarkable environmental degradation in the urban area. Thirty-three samples were collected and chemically analyzed from three groundwater wells. The chemical characterization of the groundwater at Well 1 drastically changed from NaHCO3 to NaCl within a short period of time due to overdrafting. The chemical concentrations of all parameters showed considerable increasing trends and exceeded the standard limits at Well 1. The study stated that the groundwater overdrafting causes extreme changes in the water quality within a very short period of time along with the impacts on the environment. This condition requires attention from decision makers, as the groundwater quality is continuously decreased and the environment is degraded.