Ramadan, M., Helaly, H., EL-Messery, M. (1999). Monitoring of the Groundwater Contamination at a Sludge Disposal Facility, Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29(4), 791-802. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.337559
Mohamed Ramadan; Helaly Helaly; Mamdouh EL-Messery. "Monitoring of the Groundwater Contamination at a Sludge Disposal Facility, Alexandria". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29, 4, 1999, 791-802. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.337559
Ramadan, M., Helaly, H., EL-Messery, M. (1999). 'Monitoring of the Groundwater Contamination at a Sludge Disposal Facility, Alexandria', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29(4), pp. 791-802. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.337559
Ramadan, M., Helaly, H., EL-Messery, M. Monitoring of the Groundwater Contamination at a Sludge Disposal Facility, Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 1999; 29(4): 791-802. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.337559
Monitoring of the Groundwater Contamination at a Sludge Disposal Facility, Alexandria
1Environmental Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Site 9N, Alexandria General Organization for Sanitary Drainage, Egypt
Abstract
Sludge production in Alexandria is currently about 46,000 ton dry solids [tdsl/y. This will increase to 180,000 tds/y by 2025. The study aims at monitoring the contamination of the underground and surface water at a site used for treating and disposing of the delivered sludge, ep scum, and screenings. Before 1999, 90% of the sludge was spread over the site surface and 10% was composted. In 1999, all the sludge is being composted. Eight shallow and 2 deep t wells, and 4 surface water points along the nearest canal have been selected to assist in monitoring the contamination. The change in salinity across the site is due to fresh water unfaltering from the Bahig Canal. The levels of potential contaminants detected in the groundwater underlying site 9N are at levels below the EPA and Egyptian drinking water standards except for in certain instances nitrate/nitrite, and total chromium, total lead, total arsenic, and total beryllium. The results indicate that spreading may be considered the reason of increasing the levels of some heavy metals from the leaching of retained metals in the soils from the previous spreading method. No soil analysis was done to identify the concentration e levels of the different metals. Consequently, this increase may be due the leaching of metals present in the soil and/ or from the spread sludge. The high salinity and the increased amount e of nitrate in the water can cause increased solubility of metals from the soils into the groundwater. The results showed that there is no contamination from the activity of the site on the Canal. Continued monitoring of the site is required to determine if the long-term use of the site is adversely affecting the groundwater and canal water.
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