Water quality profile and metal pollution indices of the main stream of the Nile River in Egypt

Abstract

The lower Nile River is a vital drinking and irrigation water source in Egypt. Human activities adjacent to rivers deteriorate the quality of such water resources. The water quality profiles of 23 sites along the Nile were calculated in accordance with the model (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment–Water Quality Index [CCME-WQI]). The WQI results indicated that 65%, 100%, and 96% of the Nile River water samples were suitable for drinking, irrigation and aquatic life uses, respectively. These results indicated slight effects on the Nile water quality profile due to different activities, including agricultural runoff and potential industrial and municipal effluents. The metal quality and pollution indices were calculated to assess the contamination with metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd). The metal index results for agriculture purposes indicated that the water quality in all collected samples was in the excellent category and had no adverse effect. Moreover, the study showed that the water quality profile of Nile River water had different metal pollution components, notably Pb for drinking and Pb, Co, Cu, and Cd for aquatic life usage, respectively.