Impact of lining material on chemical and microbial irrigation water quality of Nubaria canal, Egypt

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of lining material (cement) of Nubaria canal (Beheira Governorate, Egypt) on its water quality.MethodsTrace metal ions (Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) and bacterial indictors for water samples collected from two types of stations (lined and unlined) during successive four seasons were analyzed. The effect of lining on bacterial indicators; total viable bacterial count at 22 and 37 °C, total coliform, fecal coliform and fecal streptococci and presence of some bacterial species were studied.ResultsBacterial indicators and trace metals showed seasonal variations, where the highest values were recorded during summer. A significant reduction for Cu (P < 0.05), Zn (P < 0.01) and Cd (P < 0.001) was recorded in lined stations compared to those of unlined ones. Bacterial indicators recorded the lowest counts in lined stations during all seasons, while there was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) between total coliform values (1.70 ± 0.50) in lined stations and unlined ones (3.57 ± 1.01) during summer. Escherichia coli bacteria were predominant in water samples of Nubaria canal, where it recorded 34.4% of bacterial isolates.ConclusionsLined material plays a role for reducing the bacterial growth and metals concentration, therefore the lining of canal helps in preventing the discharge of sewage pollution into canal.