Evaluation of the Ground Water Aquifers at the Area between Elarish and Rafah, North Eastern Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the quantity and quality of potential groundwater resources, their mode of occurrence in the different geologic formations and potential sustainable development. The evaluation of groundwater potentialities is done for the north eastern area of Sinai Peninsula. The study is mainly based on filed survey for groundwater wells, and interpretation of the measured hydrogeological data (i.e. Water level, well yield and analyzing groundwater quality). Three aquifers were recognized in the study area based on their lithostratigraphy, hydrogeological setting and water quality, these are : Quaternary aquifer, Fracture Limestone Aquifer, Lower Cretaceous Sandstone Aquifer. The Quaternary sediments cover most the area of study especially the central and northern parts where the thickness of the wadi deposits increase while they decrease in the southern part, generally the aquifer composed of sand, clay, silt and kurkar. The fracture limestone aquifer is considered one of the most important aquifer at the north east Sinai, generally the aquifer composed of dolomitic, chalky and fracture limestone with some strikes of shale and silt, this aquifer it is difficult to evaluate and led to more intensive studies. The lower cretaceous bearing formation is composed of ferruginous, vari-colored sandstone alternating with thin shale beds and common by Malaha formation, this aquifer is consider the promising aquifer in middle and north middle Sinai due to its highly production and good water quality.