Effect of Water Shortage and Pollution of Irrigation Water on Water Reuse for Irrigation in the Nile Delta

Abstract

Agricultural drainage water (ADW) reuse is the most promising option to increase the availability of water for irrigation. The pollution of drainage networks and the Nile River water supply shortage threaten the largest ADW reuse project in Egypt (El-Salam Canal), especially following the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Accordingly, a one-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality (WQ) simulation model was built as a tool to manage the quantity and quality of the canal water using MIKE 11 modules. Three proposed scenarios aimed to assess the current situation (Scenario 1), the best WQ parameter reduction ratio of the highly pollutant drains (Scenario 2), and the effect of the construction of the GERD on the canal WQ (Scenario 3). The results provided a quantitative canal WQ management tool to comply with the standards for irrigation purposes and illustrated that after the construction of the GERD, the WQ of the canal will worsen, especially in the summer season. As such, the treatment of the water in the El-Serw and Bahr Hadous drains before mixing with the El-Salam Canal is considered the best option to protect the WQ of the canal from deterioration.