Description: Publication date: Available online 4 December 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Abeer M. Hegazy , Azza H. El-Salakawy , Hesham I. El-Kassas , Mohamed M. Yehia , Mohamed S. AbuSalama

Description: Publication date: Available online 15 November 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Mohammed T. Kholif , Ahmed M. Elfarouk Water is one of our most precious natural resources. A growing human population, and the expansion of economic activities that comes with it, will intensify the pressure on water resources. Therefore, in Egypt water management become particularly important as it located in the Arid/Semi-Arid belt. Accordingly, water in Egypt is a limiting factor for – economic and social development activities and development plans. The integrated water resources management is the approach that strengthens and supports the sustainable management and development of water resources in addition to other resources in order to achieve the most appropriate economic and social benefits. Also to achieve social justice in distribution without any disturbance in the environment and allow the participation of interested in water in making process. From that way, a deep conviction about activating and vital economic and social role of women in facing the challenges of development at all levels. Therefore women should contribute to achieve a comprehensive reform for the communities in development areas as a partner of the inherent social and economic system and represents half of the manpower affecting its development, Therefore, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has given considerable interest for women's affairs and included the importance of their role in water management principally in Ministry of Water Resources Recent Strategies. This study aims at evaluating the economic and social roles of women in water resources development projects in Egypt. In addition, the study is extended to crises-cross the impact of women presence in water resources projects on the efficiency and effectiveness of one of these projects. Thus, in the current study New Assiut Barrage Project has targeted the economic and social role of women in some villages of Assiut Governorate. A sample was selected to identify the obstacles faced women role in developing the economic and social effects of new Barrage and put down or propose same methodology to activate this role. On the other hand, investigating of the social role of women was concerned with the surveying of the most important facilities women have in the study area in addition to the potentials in the research sample that contributes to the establishment of women's roles in social education and awareness for water projects. Finally, the study ended up that women have a significant role in raising the efficiency and effectiveness of New Assiut Barrage. The findings of the study can be summarized as the success of water projects is depending partially on the women role through changing the negative social traditions achieving effective participation of individuals, raising of women community self-confidence, improve women different roles, stimulating their spirit of competition, participation and volunteering.

Description: Publication date: Available online 13 November 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Aiman M. El Saadi , Mohsen M. Yousry , Hossam S. Jahin This research aimed at assessing the approaching of Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing (MS-RS) data for estimating water quality (WQ) of Rosetta branch (RB) using stepwise regression technique. The methodology was based on developing an algorithm for estimating WQ using the Worldview-2 bands reflectance. Results showed that the optical WQ parameters as total suspended solids (TSS) and chlorophyll- a (Chl- a ) were acceptably estimated using MS-RS data with high confident. The optical WQ parameters are the most likely affecting the reflected radiation that sensed by the satellite. However, this research expanded to select non-optical WQ parameters such as pH value and biological demand (BOD) that is less likely affecting the radiation reflectance, nevertheless, still correlated to optical WQ parameters. The determination coefficient showed significant high values for ortho-phosphate (OP), total dissolved solids (TDS), Chl- a and pH with different mathematical formulations depending on pollution level. The results showed that, it is promising to perform routine WQ monitoring programs on different water bodies, even for those has relative narrow width as RB, using MS-RS data.

Description: Publication date: Available online 11 November 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Zeinab El-Fakharany , Akram Fekry Nile valley quaternary aquifer is in direct hydraulic interaction with Nile River, canals and drains. Therefore, implementation of new Esna barrage leads to enhancement of seepage flow from Nile River toward adjacent agricultural lands, impedance of drainage conditions and increase in the shallow groundwater levels beneath buildings in urban areas. Therefore, Esna city was selected as the study area to assess the impact of the barrage effect on groundwater aquifer and to propose mitigation measures. The most powerful method for studying the problem is developing a groundwater model based on monitored groundwater levels and simulating the effect of the proposed measures. Results indicated that Nile River in reaches upstream the barrage feeds the aquifer. Then, a model is used to test the effect of the mitigation measures on the surrounding settlements. Results also indicated that using cut off drains with depth of 2.5 m is the most effective and safe solution, in terms of direct impact on the buildings without need for operation cost – only maintenance cost will be needed. Also, implementing a sewage network in the city as a long-term solution is recommended.

Description: Publication date: Available online 22 October 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Enas M. Ramzy An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 0.129 NaCN mg/l for 28 days on the behavior of tilapia and the activities of adenosine triphosphatases enzyme (Na + /K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ -ATPase) within gill filaments, liver and muscles. Also, to evaluate the stability of cyanide in stored, frozen fish tissues. The present results showed that the exposed fish had shown different modes of behaviors. During the first 14 days, the fish lost its equilibrium with excessive mucous secretion on its gill filaments and skin. On the other hand, tilapia showed a normal swimming behavior with no excessive mucus secretion at 21st and 28th days. In addition, the present result showed that the NaCN decreased the activities of ATPase within the investigated tissues during the exposure periods except for the 1st day. Furthermore, the present result showed that the mean concentration of cyanide gradually decreased within the frozen tissues and completely disappeared after 48 h within frozen liver and muscle. But, it disappeared after 72 h within frozen blood and gills.

Description: Publication date: Available online 1 October 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Ibrahim H. Elsokkary , Alaa F. Abukila The objectives of this study were to explore the effect of irrigation by treated wastewater (TWW) on some chemical characteristics of cultivated lacustrine and calcareous soils, the growth and macronutrients contents of soybean, corn, faba bean and wheat; and the chemical composition and quality of drainage waters from these soils. For this, greenhouse experiments, using PVC tank of 50 kg soil capacity were carried out. The soils were irrigated by FW, TWW or 1:1 FW/TWW. The results suggest that tested plants can be irrigated with reused water since visual damage is minimal, which seems to be related to the plant's low accumulation of saline ions. The dilution of TWW with FW reduced the negative effects observed. The results have also shown a significant increase in the concentration of EC and in the counts of TC and FC in soils of the upper layer (0–20 cm) than in those of the lower layer (20–40 cm).

Description: Publication date: Available online 16 October 2014 Source: Water Science Author(s): Hanan S. Abd El-Gawad In this study, the detergent's concentrations in aquatic environment principally drinking and surface water along River Nile and near rural village were determined to report the influence of different physicochemical characteristics on the distribution of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) that lead to toxicity in human beings. The removal efficiency of LAS using zeolite and granular activated carbon technique was assessed. The results showed wide variations observed between surface (0.07–0.38 mg LAS/l) and bottom water (0.05–0.17 mg LAS/l) due to increase in population density and human activities that recorded highest concentration along rural area (surface: 1.24–2.45 and bottom: 0.93–1.083 mg LAS/l). Low concentration of surfactants was found in drinking water (0.005–0.007 mg LAS/l) compared to the concentration of the corresponding water samples along the River Nile. In conclusion, the study indicated that the treatment processes for drinking water production were insufficient for the complete removal of surfactants and adsorption process by using zeolite as low cost, most beneficial, economically feasible method as well as easy to operate for producing high quality of water.