By

Ahmad Wagdy, Ph.D.

Assc. Prof. of Hydraulics, Cairo UniversityProject Director, UNDP

WWF 4March 18, 2006

Mexico City, Mexico

Groundwater Resources Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Using Advanced Technical Tools

The Eastern Desert Project - EDP

Groundwater Management in Middle East & North Africa Region (WB, AWC)

Cairo University

FT2.25 LA1166

Presentation Outlines• Description of Local Action

– EDP Objectives– Partners– Regional Extent

• Project Work Plan and Acheivements• Advance Technical Tools• Prospects for the Future

Brief Description of EDP• A Targeted-Research Project• Develop a replicable model for integrating

groundwater resources of wady systems of arid regions into national water budget

• Funded by GEF through UNDP• Total GEF contribution of $ 830,000• In-kind local contribution of $ 590,000• Executing Agency : Cairo University

Wady Systems in Hyper Arid Environment

Flash Floods; 1994 Event

Damages Following 1994 Flash Flood

Objectives• Develop a replicable integrated model

(methodology) for evaluating the extent and development potential of ground water resources in arid lands, with the Eastern Desert of Egypt as a pilot site.

• The model will be replicable for similar arid areas; Oman, North of Sudan, Tibesty, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.

• Introducing new techniques and procedures to address arid region hydrology.

• Integrating research with development as per prevailing conditions and constrains.

• Building national capacities and providing a pool of experts capable of conducting proper groundwater management.

Partners• Irrigation & Hydraulics Department, Faculty of

Engineering, Cairo University (IHD-CU)• Center for Environmental Hazards Mitigation,

Cairo University (CEHM)• National Water Research Center (NWRC)• Groundwater Sector, Ministry of Water

Resources and Irrigation (GWS-MWRI)• Western Michigan University, International

Consultant (IC)

Regional Extent and Features• Water Divide at Red sea

mountains• Wadies flowing to sea, Wadies

flowing to Nile • Geology reveals 4 layers:

Quaternary, Carbonate [Tertiary, UC] Nubian Sand Stone, Precambrian

Project Flow ChartInception Report

PWB

Inputs Field Work Processed Layers

Geology

Topography

Hydrology

Geochemistry

Infiltration Capacity

RainfallRunoff

IsotopicComposition

DEM

WadyDeliation

Design Storms

AquiferExtent

Meteorology

Soil

Landuse

DevelopmentPlans

Ground proofing

Well DrillingPumping

Tests

Geophysics

Analysis

PrecipitationAnalysis

Surface WaterModelling

RechargeEstimation

Groundwater Modelling

DevelopmentPotential

EIA

GroundwaterSource &age

Plan of Work and

Major Achievements

Review Tasks

1. Full package of Review materialconcerning the Eastern Desert

• Geology• Hydrology• Geochemistry• Geophysics• Soil and land use, and• Previous modeling attempts concerning

surface and groundwater

Information Layers; Geology

2. Full set of GeoreferencedConoco Geologic Maps 1:500,000

3. Complete coverage of GeoreferencedLandsat TMscenes

Satellite Coverage

4. Complete coverage of ASTER Scenes L1A and L1B

Satellite Coverage, cont.

5. SRTM (radar)coverage of the Eastern Desert at 1km horizontal resolution

Satellite Coverage, cont.

6. Band reflectance Mosaic of Landsat TMover Eastern Desert

Satellite Coverage, cont.

7. Mosaic of Geologic Mapscovering the Eastern Desert

Mosaic of TM Band Ratio Images 5/4, 5/1, 5/7 (Lithology: Blue, Green, Red:)

Satellite Coverage, cont.

8. Digital Elevation Terrain Data (DEM)for the entire Eastern Desert, 60m resolution

Digital Elevation Model

Rainfall Analysis

• Meteorological approach.• Statistical approach.• RS-derived precipitation• Classification of storm.• Precipitation patterns.• Design storms.

Longitude of stations

Latit

ude

of s

tatio

ns

ABU SIMBEL

ASWAN

ASYUT

CAIRO

EL TOR

EL-SUEZ

HURGHADA

ISMAILIA

KENA KOSSEIRLUXOR

MINYA

SOHAG

RAS-BINAS

30 31 32 33 34 35 3622

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

9. Complete record for Rainfall, and other meteorological parameters during the last 50 years

Rainfall Analysis; Cont.

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32°

32°

34°

34°

36°

36°

24° 24°

26° 26°

28° 28°

30° 30°

±Annual average precipitation

1 - 2

3 - 5

6 - 10

11 - 15

16 - 20

21 - 30

31 - 40

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32°

32°

34°

34°

36°

36°

24° 24°

26° 26°

28° 28°

30° 30°

±

0.0 - 2.0

2.1 - 5.0

5.1 - 10.0

10.1 - 15.0

15.1 - 21.0

21.1 - 28.0

28.1 - 35.0

Annual rainfall values (mm) for which 50% of annual record values are less

than or equal

Precipitation Time Series

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.55.0

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Year

Pre

cipi

tatio

n vo

lum

e (B

CM

)

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

Pre

cipi

tatio

n de

pth

(mm

)

Time series of annual rainfall over the ED over the period 1968 to 2002

Different Sets of RS Data10. Set of new TRMM data(0.25°), Set of

SSMI data, Set of global 1° ppt. data (Nicholson)

30°45'

30°45'

32°0'

32°0'

33°15'

33°15'

34°30'

34°30'

35°45'

35°45'

22°15'22°30'

23°0'23°15'

23°45'24°0'

24°30'24°45'

25°15'25°30'

26°0'26°15'

26°45'27°0'

27°30'27°45'

28°15'28°30'

29°0'29°15'

29°45'30°0' ±

The precipitation 0.25°x0.25° grid covering the ED and the surrounding areas

32°

32°

34°

34°

36°

36°

24° 24°

26° 26°

28° 28°

30° 30°

0 - 5

6 - 10

11 - 20

21 - 30

31 - 40

41 - 60

61 - 100

101 - 160

161 - 220

221 - 280

±

Annual precipitation (mm) over the ED for 2001(TRMM 3B43 v6 dataset)

Satellite-Driven Precipitation

SSM/I TRMM

11. SWAT analysis (we can run model for over 20 years).

SWAT Analysis

Estimation of Recharge

12. Infiltration Testing Program for selected locations in six wadies

• Modeling (WMS, HYDRUS, Physical).

Field Assessment and Monitoring Program13. Well Inventory

for the Eastern Desert.

Age & Origin of Groundwater• Determine the renewability potential for

the groundwater.• Geochemical and Isotope analysis for

groundwater:– Stable isotope ratios of H and O in H2O

– Stable isotope ratios of dissolved Cl

– Tritium and 36Cl – natural radioactive tracers

– Solute ion concentrations (Na, Cl, etc.)

• Chloride content soil analysis.• Regional visualization for the entire ED.

14. Groundwatersampling Program; Ten wadies are sampled, through 5 field trips, for geochemical / isotopic analysis

Geo-Chemical & Isotopic Analysis

Geo-Chemical & Isotopic Analysis, cont.

15. Renewabilitypotential for sampled aquifers using Geochemical and isotopic analysis -120

-60

0

60

-12 -6 0 6

δ18O

δD

meteoric water line

Nile river

Eastern Desert groundwater

Sidi Barrani rain

Western Desert Nubian aquifer paleowater

Wadi Tarfa groundwater

Gulf of Suez paleowaters

Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen (δD) vs. oxygen (δ18O). Samples from Eastern Desert (this study) are shown as filled circles. Hollow symbols are data from other studies cited in text

Plan of Work:Surface Water Modeling

Construct a recharge / runoff modelAdjusted SCS MethodApply to all major Wadies (7)

1. GIS (co-registered data)2. Watershed delineation3. Precipitation4. Initial losses5. Runoff hydrographs & channel routing6. Transmission losses

Groundwater recharge / Select wadies with best GW development potential

Major Achievements

16. Surface Water Modeling– Wady Quena: two different approaches– Wady Sannour– Wady Abbad– Wady El-Qarn (Mattuly)– Wady Allaqui– Wady Tarfa– Wady Khareet– Wady Dara

Major Achievements18. Surface Water

Modeling Wady Quena: Two

different approaches

32°30'E

32°30'E

33°0'E

33°30'E

33°30'E

26°0'N 26°0'N

26°30'N 26°30'N

27°0'N 27°0'N

27°30'N 27°30'N

28°0'N 28°0'N

±0 10 20 30 405 Kilometers

Major Achievements18. Surface

Water Modeling

Wady Quena

32°30'E

32°30'E

33°0'E

33°30'E

33°30'E

26°0'N 26°0'N

26°30'N 26°30'N

27°0'N 27°0'N

27°30'N 27°30'N

28°0'N 28°0'N

±0 10 20 30 405 Kilometers

Creataceous Nubian Sandstone

Precambrian Volcano-sedimentar

Quaternary Alluvial Deposits

Tertiary Limestone

Major Achievements18. Surface Water

Modeling: Wady Sannour

Major Achievements18. Surface Water

Modeling: Wady Sannour

Major Achievements18. Surface Water

Modeling: Wady Abbad

Major Achievements18. Surface

Water Modeling:

Wady Abbad

Geophysical Tests

19. Geophysical ProgramWady QuenaWady Dara

Plan of WorkGroundwater Modeling

• Develop a conceptual GW flow model• Construct a two-dimensional GW model• Model calibration and validation.• Conduct steady state / transient simulations• Explore alternatives development scenarios for

sustainable utilization of ED water resources.• Explore the utility of coupled surface runoff / gw

flow models for selected Wady(s).

Major Achievements20. Groundwater

Modeling:Wady AssuitySustainable extraction Scenarios

Major Achievements20. Groundwater

Modeling:Wady Dara

Data Processing / Sharing21. Interactive Web Site for the EDP

http://www.ims.esrs.wmich.edu/website/IMS_UNDP

DBMSSQL Server

DBMSSQL Server

DBMSSQL Server

CU

SDE

Application ServerWM

SDE

Application Server

Web browser

MUDBMS

ArcIMS

Client

ArcIMSArcIMSArcIMS is utilized in the is utilized in the

integration of local GIS data integration of local GIS data sources with Internet data sources with Internet data sources for display, query, and sources for display, query, and analysis using a web browser analysis using a web browser

Client

Figure 21 Arc IMS Framework

Data Processing / Sharing22. GIS Data Base hosting all layers/products23. Web-based GIS

http://ims.esrs.wmich.edu/website/ims_undp

Ex. Extraction of Stream Network

22. GIS Data Base hosting all layers/products

23. Web-based GIS

Extraction of stream network from digital elevation data; Area W. Matully

24. GW Potential Development Model

Four Major Types Identified:

1) Nubian aquifer groundwater residing in shallow alluvial aquifers,

2) Meteoric groundwater reservoirs in fractured basement rocks,

3) Alluvial aquifers recharged by modern meteoric precipitation,

4) Meteoric groundwater reservoirs related to dyke swarms.

GW Development Potential

Looking for Similar Settings

For each of these groups, we defined a set of criteria (e.g., geochemical, morphologic, lithologic) to enable the identification of locations for potential productive wells of similar hydrogeologic/geologic setting

Type (1): Thick Alluvial Deposits in Valleys Proximal to the Nile Graben.

Wady Assuity:

• Isotopic composition of shallow aquifer water shows a major contribution from the deep Nubian aquifer.

• Major sub-vertical Faults connecting the deep nubian aquifer to the shallow quaternary alluvial aquifer

Proposed Well Locations for Type (1)

Potential Wells identified near the Nile River at the intersection of NW sub-vertical faults and NE reactivated faults

Another Example: Gulf of Suez Coastal Plain

Potential Wells identified within the Gulf coastal plain

Wadi Dara: δD = -52 ‰ , δ18O = -7‰

Targeted Groundwater Basins Type (2): Fractured Basement Meteoric Aquifers• Precipitation is channeled as surface run-off and sub surface

groundwater flow in the alluvial sediments flooring the valleys (wadis). A portion of the runoff gets trapped within the underlying fractured basement before draining into Red Sea or River Nile.

• Basement rocks are massive and lack porosity. Faults and shear zones induce porosity.Criteria

• Presence of intersecting faults and shear zone.• Presence of rocks like serpentinites which induce porosity.• Size of the drainage network.• Amount of precipitation.• Presence of kinks in the valleys.• Isotopic composition similar to the modern water.• Low percent alluvial

Meteoric Groundwater in Fractured basement cont..

δD = -8.27 ‰ , δ18O = -1.92 ‰, Watershed area = 150 km2 , % alluvial = 3%

FAWAKHIR WELL

Potential Wells identified within the central Eastern Desert

Type (3): Meteoric Precipitation in alluviumsDeveloped criteria

• Size of the watershed.

• High precipitation.

• % of alluvium.

• Isotopic composition similar to modern water.

• Tritium

Example - Wadi Tarfa• Watershed Size = 5500 km2

• Precipitation = 150 mm/5 yr• Isotopic composition

plotting along evaporation line from siddi barani rain.

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-120

-60

0

60

-12 -6 0 6

δ18O

δD

meteoric water line

Nile river

Eastern Desert groundwater

Sidi Barrani rain

Western Desert Nubian aquifer paleowater

Wadi Tarfa groundwater

Gulf of Suez paleowaters

Potential Wells Identified in the Alluvial Sediments recharged by the meteoric precipitation

• Watershed size between 700 km2 -74,000 km2

Meteoric groundwater intercepted by dykesCriteria Developed

• Dykes intersecting drainage networks.

• Large drainage network.• Isotopic composition of

groundwater similar to modern precipitation.

• Thick, long and impermeable dykes.

• Amount of precipitation• % of alluvial sediments

Well BirUmm Duqal

Wadi Umm Taghir

Well BirAddub

Wadi Abu-Zawal

Meteoric groundwater intercepted by dykes cont..

Well 73 –• Watershed area

= 40 km2 , • Precipitation =

18 mm ,• alluvial percent

= 7%, • dyke length = 15

km

Well 167 –• Watershed

area = 180 km2 ,

• Precipitation = 18 mm ,

• alluvial percent = 10%,

• dyke length = 3.6 km

!(

!(

73

167

25. Mapping of Potential Wells across the Entire Eastern Desert

- Developed set of 10 digital products.

- Generated Web-based GIS to host these datasets

http://ims.esrs.wmich.edu/website/IMS_UNDP/

- Identified Groundwater potential locations for the following:

Fossil Water – 63 locationsFractured Basement – 68 locationsAlluvial Sediment – 14 locationsDykes Related – 23 locations

Plan Of Work

Development Scenarios and EIA

• Assessment of current status, Base-line conditions and socio-economic settings.

• Environmental Impact Assessment.

• Potential sustainable pumping.

• Probable development potential.

• Conjunctive use.

Building National Capacities26. Capacity building program :

– Training Seminar on Meteorology and HydrologySep, 2003

– Training Seminar on RS & Image Processing Using PCIOct, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Geochemisty and Isotopic AnalysisDec, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Surface Water Modeling using WMSDec, 2003.

– Training Seminar on Ground Water Modeling using GMSJan , 2004

– Training Seminar on Remote Sensing and GIS ApplicationsApr , 2004

– Training Seminar on Integrated Methodology for Assessing the Groundwater Development Potential in Arid Regions

Oct, 2004.

Dissemination….27.Second Regional Conference on Arab Water,

Action Plans for Integrated Development, organized by the NWRC. A special UNDP session on Arid Regions Hydrology is coordinated by the project to disseminate results and investigate potential future regional cooperation and replicability.

28.Regional Dissemination Workshop, Dec 2005, Giza, Egypt

29.Refereed Publications: Production of two papers concerning the geochemical analysis and results for the Eastern Desert, and the Modeling of WadyAssuity.

The Eastern Desert Project Dissemination Workshop

Cairo University

Assessing Groundwater Development Potential in Arid and Hyper Arid Regions

for the UNDP/GEF Funded Project

The Eastern Desert ProjectDecember, 11-12, 2005

Intercontinental, Pyramids Park ResortGiza, Egypt

AgendaDay One, Sun. Dec. 11th, 2005Registration9:00 – 10:00 High TeaOpening 10:00 - 10:10 Workshop Highlights……………………………..Dr. Ahmad WagdyProject Director, UNDP – Cairo University10:10 - 10:20 Welcoming note………………………………..Dr. MoatazKhorshidVice President for Graduate Studies & Research, Cairo University10:20 - 10:30 Welcoming Address………………………….. Mr. Antonio VigilanteResident Representative, UNDP10:30 - 10:40 Welcoming note..…………………………...Dr. ShadenAbdelgawadChairperson, National Water Research Center

Major Achievements24. Reports;

• Surface water modeling for Wady Quena (1)• Surface water modeling for Wady Quena (2)• Surface water modeling for Wady Abbad• Surface water modeling for Wady Sannour• Surface water modeling for Wady El-Qarn• Geophysical investigations for Wady Dara• Geophysical investigations for Wady Qena (incomplete)• Groundwater Modeling for Wady Assuity (updated)• Groundwater Modeling for Wady Quena• Groundwater Modeling for Wady Dara• Application of Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques for

Hydrogeological Investigations of Wady Systems in the Eastern Desert of Egypt

• Geochemical and Isotopic Constrains on the Origin of the Eastern Desert Groundwater. (will be expanded upon availability of new samples)

• Report for Short Course on Integrated Methodology for Groundwater Assessment using Remote Sensing, GIS, GMS, and WMS.

• Methodology for Developing Groundwater Resources in Arid Lands. (First Draft)

Finally…..• Integrated Work• Multidisciplinary• Research• Development• Practical methodology and replicable

model that may augment policies.• We really hope that by the end of the

project we will have contributed an output that really serves the best for our nation and our region.