The groundwater of
the west Assiut and El-Minia districts was evaluated
in this paper using geoelectrical, hydrogeochemical, and stable isotope
(oxygen-18 and deuterium) studies. In the studied localities, 42 vertical
electrical soundings (VES) were taken to evaluate groundwater potential,
and the analysis, as well as collection, of 74 samples of Eocene groundwater
was carried out. In accordance with the vertical electrical soundings’
interpretation, there are four geoelectrical formations and two major
water-bearing units that act as aquifers (Pleistocene and Eocene).
To determine irrigation suitability, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR),
electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium
percentage (Na %), magnesium hazard (MH), Kelley’s ratio (KR),
and permeability index (PI) were evaluated as irrigation quality parameters.
The EC, Na %, and the diagram of the US salinity laboratory indicated
that most of the collected samples of groundwater were suitable for
irrigation, whereas the RSC and PI pointed out that all of the collected
water samples were safe for irrigation. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope
values in groundwater samples showed that the Eocene aquifer was recharged
by both surface water and the Nubian aquifer.