Natural filtration is a process wherein surface water is filtered through the bank or bed of a river or lake. The process is referred as river/lake bank filtration (RBF/ LBF). Bank filtration has been shown to be effective in attenuating a wide variety of materials including turbidity, natural organic matter, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, taste and odor causing compounds and microorganisms etc. The RBF is considered as a classified and a low-cost treatment (or pretreatment) method.
This study presents an attempt to explore the potential implementation sites for the RBF technology in a full-scale RBF plant located in BaniMurr– Assiut - Upper Egypt as section of the Nile valley to produce drinking water.To predict the quality characteristics of the BF, water samples were collected from pumping wells placed near the potential BF site and the surface water system. There are 4 extraction wells in the BF field, which are operated mutually. Other set of water samples were collected from two test wells situated at the potential BF field at 7 m and 15 m away from the Nile River, respectively. These water samples were collected once a week for duration of three months
Quality measurements of physical, chemical, biological and microbiological characteristics were obtained. Comparison between the produced water with the surface and the natural background groundwater for the investigated plant has proven the effectiveness of RBF technique for potablewater supply in Upper Egypt under such hydrological and environmental conditions. However, there are some aspects that could restrict the BF efficacy and must therefore be considered during the design process. These include; i) over-pumping which increases the travel time and thus decrease the efficiency of treatment; ii) locating the wells near the surface water systems (<50 m) decreases the travel time to the limit (>10days) and thus could restrict the treatment capacity; iii) the consequences of lowering the surface water level can be regulated through the continuous operation of the wells.
It was concluded that longer travel increases the potential for environmental anaerobic conditions. This enhances the reduction of undesirable and toxic elements (e.g., Fe, Mn, and As), and consequently has an adverse effect on the bank-filtrate quality. Based on these assumptions, a travel time of 10 to 50 days was regarded as acceptable. The identification of the correct position to install the BF wells is a critical factor for the successful application of the BF technique. The economic study ultimately demonstrated that BF is an economic and sustainable technique for implementation in BaniMurr City to address the demand for potable water.