Flash flooding is one of the periodic geohazards in the southern Red Sea Coast. However, their freshwaters are the main source of recharging alluvial and fractured aquifers. This paper presents hydrological and geomorphologic classification of Wadi El-Gemal, Wadi Umm El-Abas, Wadi Abu Ghuson and Wadi Lahmi, along the southeastern Red Sea Coast in Egypt. The main goal is to find a relationship of flash floods and groundwater recharge potentials. Satellite imageries and topographic data were analysed via remote sensing and GIS techniques. The main four valleys' orders range from six to seven. Wadi El-Gemal was the main focus of this study; it is characterized by high stream frequency, low stream density and coarse texture, reflecting influence of highly fractured Precambrian rocks. Most of the wadis have umbrella-shaped catchment areas, due to the influence of NW-SE Najd Fault System and late E-W strike-slip faults. The main wadis were divided into 45 sub-basins. 14 of the studied sub-basins flow into Wadi El-Gemal, 7 flow into Wadi Umm El-Abas, 10 are in Abu Ghuson, and rest of the basins flow into WadiLahmi. A conceptual model was used in this study, showing that most of the sub-basins have high flash flooding and low groundwater recharge potentials. However, only two sub-basins have low potential of flooding and high potential of groundwater recharge, whereas few sub-basins have moderate potential of groundwater recharge as well as flooding. For flash floods beneficiation and mitigation, construction of multifunctional embankment dams is imminent. F. Abdalla et al.
Groundwater is an important water resource in the Helwan area, not only for drinking and agricultural purposes, but also because several famous mineral springs have their origin in the fractured carbonate aquifer of the region. The area is heavily populated with a high density of industrial activities which may pose a risk for groundwater and surface water resources. The groundwater and surface water quality was investigated as a basis for more future investigations. The results revealed highly variable water hydrochemistry. High values of chloride, sulphate, hardness and significant mineralization were detected under the industrial and high-density urban areas. High nitrate contents in the groundwater recorded in the southern part of the study area are probably due to irrigation and sewage infiltrations from the sewage treatment station. The presence of shale and marl intercalation within the fissured and cavernous limestone aquifer promotes the exchange reactions and dissolution processes. The groundwater type is sodium, sulphate, chloride reflecting more mineralized than surface water. The results also showed that water in the study area (except the Nile water) is unsuitable for drinking purposes, but it can be used for irrigation and industrial purposes with some restrictions.
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