Evaluation and management of groundwater resources in the farm of Assiut Cement Company, Assiut, Egypt: An example of water management in a desert area with little or no rainfall

Water in rainless desert area is critical for life, and proper management of available groundwater is essential. The major industrial area of Assiut Governorate is located in the desert area west of Assiut City, Upper Egypt. The demand for defining groundwater availability in this area is increasingly becoming recognized, not only for drinking purposes but also with regard to other beneficial uses such as the use of groundwater in agricultural production, mining, and industrial purposes. Research is underway to obtain geologic and hydrogeologic data to develop and implement site reclamation in the farm of Assiut Cement Company. During the summer of 1995, a series of pumping tests were performed to provide information concerning the aquifer's transmissivity and storativity and also about the efficiencies of the newly drilled and old water wells in the farm area. Groundwater information collected from these wells includes: (1) depth and extent of aquifers, (2) lithology and thickness of the aquifers, (3) potentiometric surfaces, (4) water quality. The objective of the present phase of the ongoing research is to evaluate the available groundwater resources in the area and to develop the appropriate water management scheme which is crucially needed for the sustainable development of the area.