Hydrochemistry and nutrients of Bitter and Temsah Lakes, Suez Canal, Egypt.

Abstract

Temperature, pH, salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Oxidizable Organic Matter (OOM) as well as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate were studied seasonally in the surface water of Bitter and Temsah Lakes during 2009 and 2010. The results revealed that: i) the annual mean range of concentration of these parameters in Bitter lakes were (24.53 o C; 8.09; 40.40 ‰; 7.26 mgO 2 /L ; 1.74 mgO 2 /L; 1.29 mgO 2 /L; 1.69 µmol/L; 0.52 µmol/L; 2.91 µmol/L; 0.62 µmol/L and 3.13 µmol/L, respectively). On the other hand, the corresponding values in Temsah Lake were (25.07 o C; 8.11; 28.84 ‰; 6.96 mgO 2 /L ; 3.35 mgO 2 /L ; 2.70 mgO 2 /L ; 2.78 µmol/L; 0.92 µmol/L; 6.16 µmol/L; 1.03 µmol/L; and 4.99 µmol/L, respectively). ii) The aquatic system of Temsah Lake became deteriolized, where the concentration of contaminants viz: BOD, OOM, and nutrient salts were relatively increased, probably due to the effect of acute pollution of the disposal of untreated sewage and agriculture effluents from sweet Canal. iii) Seasonally, nutrient salts recorded the highest values during winter and this is may be due to tidal current of the water column, which mixes the bottom water with the surface. While the lowest values were recorded during autumn and spring, due to the production of phytoplankton standing crop iv) The calculated N: P: Si ratios are less than that of Redfield ratio, suggesting that the areas under investigation (Bitter and Temsah Lakes) are N limited, and v). The level of nutrients and other trophic indicating parameters, refer that the areas of investigation are in eutrophic state.