Temporal and spatial evaluation of the River Nile water quality between Qena and Sohag Cities, Egypt

Background The River Nile became under stress in the last decades from the different human (anthropogenic) activities. The present work dealt with the River Nile water quality from Qena to Sohag districts, Egypt. Sixty water samples were collected during 2016 winter and summer and subjected to chemical analysis according to standard methods. Results The results indicated temporal and spatial variations in the chemical content of the collected water samples. The samples showed higher concentrations of Ca, Cl, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Zn during summer than winter, owing to intensive human activities during summer such as navigation and agricultural and industrial activities. The samples enriched with pH, TDS, Mg, Na, K, HCO 3 , SO 4 , and NO 3 during winter, due to the small water column and slow flow-rate. Conclusion The studied samples in winter and summer were unsuitable for drinking due to the recorded unacceptable concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb in the studied samples. The presence of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb may impact water consumer health because the used coagulation procedures in drinking water stations are not effective in the removal of these metals. The River Nile water is suitable for irrigation, except for some samples, which contain elevated concentrations of As and Cr. Finally, the River Nile protection laws must be strictly applied by national and international authorities to save its water quality.