Environmental impacts of new settlements on the Groundwater in a Region in Delta

This research studies the prevailing hydrogeological conditions and assessesthe pollution risk in Quessna City as one of new settlements areas and as highpollution risk area due to absence of the clay cap covering the quaternaryaquifer in the Nile Delta, especially within this region.In this area (turtle back) allows high infiltration rate of existing oxidationponds and waste water. The infiltration of the polluted wastewater to theaquifer and consequently the migration of pollutants might exist.The objective is to study the environmental impacts of new settlements on thegroundwater quality in Quessna locality by using a numerical groundwatermodel to simulate the groundwater behavior and the migration of the pollutionplum under the initiated industrial and agriculture activities.Two main scenarios were assumed for potential pollution sources; (A) diffusepollution source on the industrial area, and (B) line pollution source on thepolluted reach of El Khadrawya Drain and in this scenario two assumed caseswere done; (1) applying the drain pollution source directly above the sandylayer which was considered the worst case, and (2) applying the drainpollution source above the clay layer and this case will be less risky than caseone because of the clay important role in decreasing the pollution migration tothe aquifer.. A solute transport numerical model (Visual ModFlow Pro. VA.2.) was usedto simulate the migration of the pollutants and to evaluate the environmentalnegative impacts.The model calibration and sensitivity analysis were done. The model resultsshowed high risky possibility of the migration of the pollution plume causingdeterioration in the groundwater quality in the study area.