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<p>Lake Qarun, one of Egypt’s most important inland lakes, supports fisheries, tourism, and recreation but has undergone severe environmental deterioration over the past four decades due to agronomic, economic, and anthropogenic pressures. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of its water quality, identify the drivers of degradation, and assess its suitability for multiple uses based on international standards. The long-term degradation of the lake over the past decades has been widely reported in the literature. However, the present study specifically focuses on the period 2010–2016, which was selected based on the availability, consistency, and reliability of the datasets required for the applied analysis. This period allows for a robust and methodologically consistent assessment, while the broader historical context is incorporated to support the interpretation of observed trends. GIS-based spatial interpolation and multi-linear regression revealed statistically consistent spatial–temporal degradation patterns, with WQI results indicating unsuitability for irrigation and very poor conditions for aquatic life, rather than uniform unsuitability across all uses. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was conducted by selecting key parameters (EC, pH, DO, and COD), assigning weights based on their relative ecological significance, and aggregating them into a composite score to classify water suitability. This approach provides a standardized and integrative diagnostic tool, enabling comparative assessment across spatial zones and supporting management prioritization. Although Lake Qarun is a hypersaline closed basin, FAO (1994) and CCME (2007) guidelines were adopted as diagnostic benchmarks to support comparative assessment and management prioritization. The extremely high salinity of Lake Qarun (EC = 43–45.2&#xa0;dS/m) was identified as a dominant ecological stressor that amplifies pollution impacts, restricts aquatic life viability, and contributes to the observed decline in fisheries productivity. Salinity ranged from 43 to 45.2&#xa0;dS/m, pH from 8.7 to 9.3, dissolved oxygen from 6.94 to 10.58&#xa0;mg/L, and COD from 11 to 32&#xa0;mg/L. The WQI varied between 14 and 99.9, with an average of 73.4, classifying the lake’s water as “poor.” Suitability maps confirmed widespread unsuitability for irrigation, aquatic life, and other uses. Overall, Lake Qarun’s water quality is critically degraded, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and potential health hazards, and immediate environmental management interventions are essential to restore its ecological integrity and sustain its socio-economic functions.</p>

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Spatial environmental classification of Lake Qarun in terms of water quality and morphology

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月17日

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  • Yousra Ahmed Fouad El Degwee,
  • Emad Fawzi Mostafa,
  • Eid Hosny Ashour,
  • Mohamed Sherif Saad Shehata

摘要

Lake Qarun, one of Egypt’s most important inland lakes, supports fisheries, tourism, and recreation but has undergone severe environmental deterioration over the past four decades due to agronomic, economic, and anthropogenic pressures. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of its water quality, identify the drivers of degradation, and assess its suitability for multiple uses based on international standards. The long-term degradation of the lake over the past decades has been widely reported in the literature. However, the present study specifically focuses on the period 2010–2016, which was selected based on the availability, consistency, and reliability of the datasets required for the applied analysis. This period allows for a robust and methodologically consistent assessment, while the broader historical context is incorporated to support the interpretation of observed trends. GIS-based spatial interpolation and multi-linear regression revealed statistically consistent spatial–temporal degradation patterns, with WQI results indicating unsuitability for irrigation and very poor conditions for aquatic life, rather than uniform unsuitability across all uses. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was conducted by selecting key parameters (EC, pH, DO, and COD), assigning weights based on their relative ecological significance, and aggregating them into a composite score to classify water suitability. This approach provides a standardized and integrative diagnostic tool, enabling comparative assessment across spatial zones and supporting management prioritization. Although Lake Qarun is a hypersaline closed basin, FAO (1994) and CCME (2007) guidelines were adopted as diagnostic benchmarks to support comparative assessment and management prioritization. The extremely high salinity of Lake Qarun (EC = 43–45.2 dS/m) was identified as a dominant ecological stressor that amplifies pollution impacts, restricts aquatic life viability, and contributes to the observed decline in fisheries productivity. Salinity ranged from 43 to 45.2 dS/m, pH from 8.7 to 9.3, dissolved oxygen from 6.94 to 10.58 mg/L, and COD from 11 to 32 mg/L. The WQI varied between 14 and 99.9, with an average of 73.4, classifying the lake’s water as “poor.” Suitability maps confirmed widespread unsuitability for irrigation, aquatic life, and other uses. Overall, Lake Qarun’s water quality is critically degraded, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and potential health hazards, and immediate environmental management interventions are essential to restore its ecological integrity and sustain its socio-economic functions.