=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper44
|storemode=property
|title=Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Drainage Water Statistically – A Case Study
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper44.pdf
|volume=Vol-1498
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/haicta/NasrZ15
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==Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Drainage Water Statistically – A Case Study==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper44.pdf
Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Drainage Water
Statistically – A Case Study
Mahmoud Nasr1, Hoda Farouk Zahran2
1
Sanitary Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, P.O. Box
21544, Alexandria, Egypt, e-mail: mahmmoudsaid@gmail.com
2
Plant Production Department, Arid Land Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific
Researches and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt, e-mail: hfzahran@gmail.com
Abstract. Agricultural drainage water could be a source of water for irrigation
in Egypt. A case study of an agricultural drainage water near El- Dare region –
Borg El Arab City Alexandria, Egypt. Some Physical and chemical parameters
(pH, temp, TDS, DO, EC, Salinity, NO3–N, Cl-) were measured on site during
seasons of 2014, 2015. By statistical analysis from Min, Max, range, mean, SD
and median a performance evaluation for this agricultural drainage water
resource performed. In Egypt, Water quality standards have been developed
governing the treatment of agricultural drainage water. The guidelines aim at
protecting the natural environment from wastewater – related pollution.
Keywords: Agricultural drainage water- drainage water reuses- Egyptian
standards - water quality.
1 Introduction
Safe reuse and disposal of water requires an understanding of the characteristics of
the drainage water (Nasr, 2015). Water quality is a description of biological,
chemical, and physical characteristics of water (El Gohary, 2015). The water quality
is normally assessed by measuring a broad range of parameters (e.g., temperature;
pH; electrical conductivity (EC); turbidity; and the concentrations of a variety of
pollutants, including pathogens, nutrients, organics, and metals) (Abdel Azim, 2000).
In Egypt, water quality standards have been developed to govern the treatment of
agricultural drainage water (El-Kady, 1999). The guidelines aim at protecting the
natural environment from wastewater – related pollution. Those rules are illustrated
in several articles and reports as follows (http://www.afdb.org; APRP, 1998;
Drainage Research Institute, 1995; Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, 1992;
EHCW, 1995) : Law 48/1982 Regarding the protection of the river Nile and
waterways from pollution - Article 12: Conditions for drainage water reuse;
Ministerial Decree 8/1983 on Law 48/1982 Concerning reuse of drainage water -
Article 65: Standards for mixing drainage water with canal water (reuse) by the
ministry of water resources and irrigation; Law 12/1982 Regarding the irrigation and
drainage - Article 31: Specifications of the drainage water network established
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according to the ministry of water resources and irrigation - Article 48: Conditions
for drainage water reuse in Irrigation purposes determined by the ministry of water
resources and irrigation; Ministerial Decree 44/2000 Regarding the Amendment of
Law 93/1962 on the drainage of liquid wastes - Article 15: Specification of the
irrigated lands - criteria for types of plants for each type of wastewater treatment -
environmental and health precautions.
2 Study area
Agricultural drainage water was near El- Dare region – Borg El Arab City
Alexandria, Egypt.
3 Determination and Statistical Analysis of Samples’ Data
Physical and chemical parameters (pH, Temperature [temp] , Total Dissolved Solids
[TDS], Dissolved Oxygen [DO], Electrical Conductivity [EC], Salinity, Nitrate as Nitogen
Concentration [NO3–N], Chlorides [Cl-]) were measured on site during seasons of 2014,
2015 using Multiparameter water quality probe- Aquaprobe® AP-7000, England
according to Standard Methods for examination of Water and Wastewater (Eaton,
2005).
and next statistical analysis from minimum (Min), maximum (Max), range, mean,
standard deviation(SD) and median (Walker, 2002) for data were performed as shown
in table (1) and some formula for statistical calculations are shown in table (2).
Table 1. Statistical Analysis for Physical and Chemical Characteristics for Collected Samples
Parameters Min Max Range Mean SD Median
pH 7.90 10.30 2.40 8.70 0.90 8.30
Temp (̊ C) 18.50 21.90 3.40 20.30 1.00 20.10
TDS (ppm) 1.37 5.70 4.32 2.84 1.31 2.38
DO (%) 0.90 48.60 3.90 1. 40 1.00 1.20
EC µs/cm 2.05 9.00 6.95 4.18 2.13 3.46
Salinity (g/kg) 1.06 2.60 1.54 1.72 0.46 1.69
NO3–N (mg/L) 0.01 0.55 0.36 0.39 0.11 0.39
Cl- (mg/L) 14. 80 155.50 140.70 94.19 45.70 92.00
Table 2. Statistical Analysis Formula of Data.
Measure Formula Description
Mean Σx/n Balance point
Median n+1/2 Position Middle value when ordered
Mode None Most frequent
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4 Reuse of drainage water
• Official reuse: by capturing drainage flows in main drains and mixing them
with main canal water at centralized mixing pump stations.
• Intermediate reuse: water in a branch drain can be captured when its water
quality is appropriate. It can avoid unnecessary losses of branch drain water by
using it before being connected to a highly polluted main drain.
• Unofficial reuse: is defined as farmer’s direct reuse of drainage water without
pre-permission from Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. It exists
wherever canal water shortage is recorded; i.e. mainly at canal end.
5 Conclusions
Based on the drainage water quality analysis of the drain and the Egyptian
standards for the drainage water reuse, it’s concluded that water quality of the drain
doesn’t meet the standards for direct reuse in irrigation. Vegetables irrigated with
such drainage water are not safe for human and animal consumption. Therefore, a
remediation solution using physical, chemical and/or biological methods is
recommended.
Acknowledgments. All acknowledgments are represented for any member from
Plant Production Department, Arid Land Cultivation Research Institute, City of
Scientific Researches and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt, who
helped in this work along its duration of time.
References
1. Nasr, M. and Zahran, H. (2015). Assessment of agricultural drainage water
quality for safe reuse in irrigation applications-a case study in Borg El-Arab,
Alexandria. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 3, (3), p. 241- 44.
2. El Gohary, R. (2015). Agriculture, Industry, and Wastewater in the Nile Delta.
International Journal of Scientific Research in Agricultural Sciences,
2(Proceedings), p. 159-172.
3. Abdel Azim, R. (2000). Agricultural Drainage Water in Egypt: Evaluation of
Current Practices and a Vision for Future Development, Ph. D. thesis, Cairo
University.
4. El-Kady, M. and Elshibiny, F. (1999). The Role & Non-conventional water for
Egypt future development strategy. 3rd Conference of On-Farm Irrigation and
Agro Climatology, Cairo, Egypt, January 25-27.
5. http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Environmental-and-
Social-Assessments/ADB-BD-IF-2008-55-EN-EGYPT-ESIA-GABAL-EL-
ASFAR-WASTEWATER-TREATMENT-PLANT.PDF
369
6. APR- Water Policy Reform Project- (1998).
7. Drainage Research Institute (1995). Reuse of drainage water in the Nile delta.
8. Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (1992). Environmental Action Plan.
EEAA.
9. EHCW. (1995). Egyptian Standards for Drinking and Domestic Water
Accounting to the Act 27/1978 in Regulating of the Public Water Supplies.
Egyptian Higher Committee of Water (EHCW) and 1995.
10. Eaton, A., Clesceri, L. and Greenberg, A. (2005). Standard methods for the
examination of water and wastewater. 21st ed. Washington: American Public
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Examples, 2nd ed. SAS Institute: Cary, NC.
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