The project, led by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), titled "Monitoring, Assessment, and Innovative Treatment Technology to Enhance Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Purposes," is dedicated to improving groundwater quality in Alexandria’s Abu Qir area. Recognizing the growing need for reliable water sources, AASTMT has undertaken a detailed study to evaluate groundwater quality through physical, chemical, and biological assessments, focusing on pollutant levels and seasonal shifts. Using advanced nano-silver composite filtration, the project aims to make groundwater more suitable for irrigation, supporting sustainable water resource management and aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and climate adaptation objectives.
The findings of the project on groundwater quality for irrigation in Abu Qir, Alexandria, revealed the following key points:
General Water Quality: Based on physical, chemical, and biological analyses, the groundwater is moderately suitable for irrigation according to international standards. However, some wells showed elevated levels of contaminants that exceed safe irrigation thresholds.
Contaminants: Elevated nitrate levels in several wells are likely due to agricultural runoff and potential sewage leakage, especially near certain locations within the AASTMT campus. Wells No. 10, 11, 12, and 13 showed nitrate levels above safe limits, making them unsuitable for irrigation without treatment(2075_Full Technical Rep…).
Irrigation Suitability: Using irrigation indices like Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Permeability Index (PI), and Magnesium Hazard (MH), most groundwater samples fell within permissible limits for irrigation. However, some indices, such as Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), indicated unsuitability in a portion of wells, suggesting potential risks for soil health due to salinity and alkalinity issues.
Seasonal Variations: Water quality fluctuated across seasons, with winter generally showing better quality due to dilution from rainfall, while summer and autumn often displayed higher contaminant concentrations.
Impact of Treatment: Testing with nano-silver composite filters significantly improved groundwater quality, reducing certain contaminant levels, making more wells suitable for irrigation. This demonstrates the potential of innovative filtration technology to address groundwater quality issues
Water Treatment: To sustain agricultural productivity, it is recommended to treat water from specific wells before irrigation or to utilize saline-tolerant crops in areas with higher salt content. Using a nano-silver composite filtration system, the treatment significantly improved the water quality by reducing levels of contaminants and improving irrigation indices, such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), and Kelly’s Ratio (KR), making the groundwater more suitable for agricultural use. This nano-silver composite treatment proved effective across various wells and seasons, demonstrating its potential for enhancing groundwater quality.
Sustainable Water Extraction: To facilitate sustainable water extraction from clean sources, a solar-powered system is implemented comprising a solar photovoltaic (PV) array to power a three-phase pump and a four-stage nano-filtration unit is used. Key components include JA Solar Mono-455 W panels and an ABB ACS550-01-05A4-4 solar inverter, selected for efficiency and reliability.The PV system captures solar energy, which is converted and used by the pump to draw water from a well. The water then undergoes filtration through a multi-stage process, including sand and silver/activated carbon (Ag/AC) filters, to ensure cleanliness and safety for agriculture and consumption.
Use of ICT Technology and IoT: The project continously monitors underground water quality using IoT and a simple mobile application
For more details of the project, please read below:
