top of page
Cairo University
Faculty of Postgraduate African Studies
Department of Natural Resources
Ph.D. Water Resources
First Term (Fall) 2024/2025
Groundwater Pollution in Africa
  (RES 604)

 

Most of the Earth’s liquid freshwater is found, not in lakes and rivers, but is stored underground in aquifers (23% of global freshwater, and 0.57% of the total global water), which forms groundwater beneath the surface of the Earth.

Groundwater is extremely important in Africa. It is estimated that more than 75% of the African population uses groundwater as the main source of drinking water supply. This is particularly so in North African countries. Problems with freshwater availability in Africa are further complicated by highly variable levels of rainfall.

 

Water quality is impacted both by natural processes, such as seasonal trends, underlying geology and hydrology, weather and climate, and by human activities, including domestic, agriculture, industry and environmental engineering. The pollution/contamination is a major problem in Africa.

 

 

During this course you will learn:

  • What is groundwater contamination

  • Why it is important for Africa

  • The main sources of contamination

  • The importance of ground water aquifers

  • Soil properties and their influence on aquifer characteristics

  • Where groundwater comes from

  • Where ground water goes

  • How we obtain ground water

 

 

Course Description:

This course covers fundamentals of subsurface flow and transport. The course will cover the following topics: aquifer types, water table, water wells, Water quality, Darcy equation, storage properties, groundwater aquifers in Africa, Nile Delta aquifer and Nubian Sandstone aquifers as case studies, water pollution and groundwater contamination

​

Grading

Mid Term Exam (Nov. 17, 2024) ..................................................  10%
Research Paper (Dec. 22, 2024)……….......…..............................  10% (How to write term paper)   

Oral Exam (Dec. 22, 2024)............................................................   10%
Final Exam ....................................................................................   70%

​

 

Topics will be covered in this course:

   Last Updated on Nov. 18, 2024

bottom of page