1

NEW DEVICE TO PLANT SALT AND BRACKISH SHALLOW WATER NEAR

COASTAL ZONES

Reda M.A.Hassan1

Abstract

Nonconventional water resources has recently received increasing concerns in Egypt and

worldwide. Many researches have been carried out to find or improve any new water resource

technique, especially, desalination, dew and fog harvesting, cloud seeding, rain harvesting, reuse

of treated water, and evaporation reduction, on the way to save water for plantation and

utilization. For this reason the rain water harvesting and the reuse of water losses by evaporation

techniques are very considerable. The aim of this research is finding a new tool and an

appropriate method to use the harvested rain water and the collected evaporated water from salt

and brackish shallow water lakes near costal zones, like Marriott, Burullus, Manzala, Bardaueel

and Edko lakes, where the water bodies near coastal zones constitute one of the aspects which can

save water and share in solving water dilemma. In this research a new device has been used as a

tool to collect evaporated water through ribbed plastic semi transparence conical condenser and

evaporator wherein floating planters can receive water to cultivate some economical important

plants, especially medicinal plants. Also, the device can harvest rain water and dispense it to the

planters. It could be concluded from the research that the new device comprises a new

nonconventional water resource method in harvesting rain water and condensing evaporated

water from open water surfaces for planting the shallow water surfaces near coastal zones using

floating planters.

Keywords: Coastal Zones -Evaporation -Rain-Nonconventional Water resource-New Device.

1. Introduction

The integrated water policy in Egypt is based on three fundamental factors which are the increase

of natural Nile discharges at the main sources, the improvement of water use efficiency in all

sectors and prevention of water pollution including the use of non-conventional water resources

Ref.(1). Approximately all available conventional water resources have been exhausted, new

development needs careful review of water allocations in order to raise efficiencies and protection

against pollution. Egypt has to do more with its limited amounts of fresh water; the immediate

answer is to turn towards non conventional sources such as water recycling, desalination, cloud

seeding, rainfall harvesting, and evaporation reduction. The main objectives of this research is to

find a new device wherein the salt water can be used and the water from rainfall can be harvested

to use both evaporated water and harvested rain water in plantation. The new device was tested

in the lab and it should be tested in areas where shallow saline water is available like salt and

brackish water lakes in Marriott, Burullus, Manzala, Bardaueel and Edko. These zones are near

1 Ph.D., Researcher at, Environment & Climate Change Research Institute, National Water Research

Center, E-mail:-Doctor_ reda2010@yahoo.com. Tel. :-( 00202)4 2184757

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from costal zones where the amount of rainfall is slightly bigger than other areas in Egypt. More

description for the new device will be presented in theoretical approach and some of the related

inventions will be stated in the background and literature review.

2. Literature Review and Background

The Inventions Related to the New Device are:-

2.1 Floating Devices for Germination of Seeds and Growing of Seedlings

The water culture or hydroponic growth of plants has been known for over 100 years. Nowadays

this technique is mostly used to increase the agricultural productivity per unit area of land. With

normal crop growing cycles in soil, the lateral development of the plants has to be taken into

account from the sowing until maturity. Many types of crops require a substantial lateral area

when the plants are mature, but a relatively insubstantial lateral area in the seedling stage. This

results in a substantial inefficiency in the use of farmland during the earlier stages of the growing

cycle. Water culture or hydroponic growth of plants eliminates said inefficiency because the

growing stage from germination to seedling is not performed in normal soil, but in other media

like polyurethane foam, agar gel or granules where the seeds and seedlings may be placed in

close proximity of each other, resulting in a very economical use of the available space and also

in shorter growing cycles in normal farmland soil enabling more harvests per year. Later the

seedlings are in most cases transplanted to spatially fixed locations in normal farmland soil to

grow to maturity. Also are known hydroponic growing techniques which make use of flotation

supports like trays or rafts containing the usual water culture cultivation media, and techniques

where the cultivation media themselves float on water or on a watery nutrient fluid, absorbing

water or said watery nutrient fluid up to a certain saturation level, and providing water and

nutrients to the seeds, seedlings or plant cuttings that are germinating or growing on or in said

cultivation media. In many of these techniques the developing roots grow through the cultivation

media and/or through, for instance, prefabricated holes in the flotation supports into the water or

watery nutrient fluid on which the cultivation media and flotation supports float, Ref.(2).

The American invention number, WO 2006099879 A1,with title “Floating device for germination

of seeds and growing of seedlings and plant cuttings “ is a device for germination of seeds and

growing of seedlings and plant cuttings, whereby the device floats in a fluid medium, being water

or a watery nutrient fluid suitable for plant growth. The device according to the invention is

thereby characterized by the fact that said device comprises a membrane that is absorbent for

water and/or for said watery nutrient fluid and serves as support for the germinating seeds and the

growing seedlings and plant cuttings.

2.2 Floating Planting Systems

The most floating planting system inventions related to the research can be addressed as follows.

The American invention application number, US 6918206 B2, with title

“Floating island planting system “Ref.(3). The European invention number, EP 0737418 A2, with

title “Floating island with water-purifying effect, plant-cultivation bag and method for purifying

water “Ref. (4). The German invention number, DE 19654031 C2, with title”

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Floating Island textile plants “Ref.(5). The European invention number, WO 2008048778 A2,

with title “Highly buoyant and semi-rigid floating islands “Ref.(6). The European invention

number, WO 2005115129 A3, with title “Super-enhanced, adjustably buoyant floating island

“Ref.(7). The European invention publication number , EP 2468088 B1,with title “Super-

enhanced, adjustably buoyant floating island “Ref.(8).The European invention number, WO

1996034793 A1, with title “Artificial floating island “Ref.(9). The European invention

publication number, WO 2007124226 A2, with title “Buoyant wetland system “Ref.(10). The

Chinese invention publication number , CN 101508490 B, with title “Sea water resistant

ecological floating bed “Ref.(11), and the European invention number, EP 2295382 A1, with title

“Floating cell and island with a floating macrophyte filter “Ref.(12).

2.3 U.S Salinity Laboratory Classification for Different Types of Saline Water

The U.S salinity laboratory classification for different types of saline water will be stated below

Ref. (17):-

2.3.1 Low saline water (C1)

The low saline water (C1) contains < 200mg/L salinity, and electric conductance < 250 µS /cm

at 250C. It can be used for irrigation for most crops in most soils, with little likelihood that a

salinity problem will develop. Some leaching is required but this occurs under normal irrigation

practices, except in soils of extremely low permeability.

2.3.2 Medium saline water (C2)

The salinity content of this class ranges between 200 and 500 mg/L and electric conductance

ranges between 250 and 750 µS /cm at 250C. Water is suitable for moderate salt tolerance

without problems and no special practices for salinity control are needed. This type of water can

be used for irrigation when a moderate amount of leaching occurs.

2.3.3 High saline water (C3)

The salinity content of high saline water (C3) class ranges between 500 and 1500 mg/L with

electric conductance ranges between 750 and 2250 µ S/cm at 250C. It can be used for moderate

to good permeable soils, while it cannot be used for soil that has poor drainage. Even with

adequate drainage, special management for salinity control may be required and plants with good

salt tolerance should be selected.

2.3.4 Very high saline water (C4)

The water of very high saline water class (C4), which ranges between (1,500 and 3,000 mg/L),

(2,250 - 5,000 µs/cm/25oC) is not suitable for irrigation under regular conditions, but it may be

used for irrigation, occasionally under very special circumstances. The soil should be permeable,

the drainage must be adequate and salt tolerance crops should be selected.

2.3.5 Excessively high saline water (C5)

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Excessively high saline water (C5) includes salinity content that exceeds 3,000 mg/L with electric

conductance more than 5,000 µS /cm at 25ºC. Therefore, this water is generally undesirable for

irrigation, plant of high salt tolerance must be chosen and frequent leaching must be done to

control the increasing salinity.

3. Experimental Work

The experiments were carried out in an open area in El Kanater Al Khiria (south Cairo). The

experimental work was divided into four stages to achieve the goals of the research as follow:

- Field trips to collect water samples,

- Simulation of floating planters,

- Checking of the flotation of the planters on the water surface,

- Collecting evaporated water from model of the new device,

- Analysis of the collected water,

- Theoretical data acquisition.

The first stage of the experiment was the field trips to collect water samples from Lake Marriott

and sea water samples from Alexandria Beach (Miami Beach). The samples were collected and

analyzed before and after using it in the experiments. Simulation of floating planters was done

using ten gardens pots, five plastic pans and foam sheets which were cut to be less than the plastic

pans in area wherein the planters will float; the sheets were formed and sized to nest the gardens

pots in it, after that, the five colored plastic pans with the same diameter were filled with water to

a depth of 10cm from the bottom of the pans. The five colored plastic pans were calibrated to a

predetermined water level using a scale to get the same water level for all pans. Readings of water

levels were taken daily for one month. The average readings of water levels for five pans were

taken where no differences in values were noticed. The five colored pans cleaned and refilled

with water to a depth of 4 cm from the bottom of pans. Four pans were used as water containers

to accommodate four different types of planters with different numbers of pots, as shown in

figure (1). The first pan has one pot, and the second pan has two pots, while the third pan has

three pots, and the fourth pan has four pots. The fifth pan was left free open surface to be as a

reference for the other four pans. The floatation and water absorption from the bottom of the pots

were noticed. After two days some of the planters absorbed water from the pans, and for this

reason the pots were removed and were isolated using plastic thin sheets to prevent water

absorption from the pans. After that the pots re-nested in the foam sheets and re-floated on the

pans. The flotation and water absorption by plants were noticed and readings of water levels were

taken daily for one month to check also evaporation rate. The next stage was the simulation of the

new device in the laboratory, a small model comprises evaporator, condenser and floating

planters was used to evaporate and collect water. At the beginning of the experiment a small

amount of evaporated water was collected during 10 days, because the surface area under the

evaporator was small. For this reason the water in the container was heated to speed the

evaporation process after that the evaporated water were gathered and were sent to water quality

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lab, the data are tabulated for analysis in table (1). The next stage of the experiment was the using

of collected evaporated water in irrigation of pots. Three open pans were chosen and were filled

with Brackish, Sea water, and fresh water with a depth equal to 4 cm, for each planter. The pots

were fixed in a floating sheet and prevented from reaching water. The plants in the pots were

irrigated from collected evaporated water and the planters were noticed daily for a month.

The last stage of the experimental work was the theoretical data acquisition for the available rains

in Alexandria governorate and the rate of evaporation in coastal zone near this area. The data

about water depth and surface water area of the different lakes (Marriott, Burullus, Manzala,

Bardaueel and Edko) were collected.

4. Theoretical Approach

4.1 Description of the New Device

In this research a new device has been used as a tool to collect evaporated water through ribbed

plastic semi transparence conical condenser and evaporator wherein floating planters can receive

water to cultivate some plants. Also the device can harvest rain water and dispensing it to the

planters. The main objectives from the new device are the optimize the use of evaporated water

from large salt water surface like shallow lakes, also to use rain water in winter season in

plantation of a lot of types of crops especially the medicinal plants for the economical value of

these plants also seed germination and seedlings can be used by the new device.

The device comprises five main parts. The first one is the condenser as shown in figure (2), which

receives the evaporated water from the evaporator. The condenser wall has heat insulation to keep

inner surface of the condenser cool to condense the hot evaporated water from the open surface

under the evaporator. Also, the outer surface of the condenser is colored by white color to reflect

the sun heat and the condenser has at the lower end, a notch to direct evaporated water into the 4

concealed L-shape pipes in the evaporator walls. The condenser has ribs in the inner surface to

guide the collected water drops to go down through the gutters in between ribs. The condenser is

supported on the second part via male and female connection. The second part of the new device

is the evaporator which has two open circular lower and upper bases. The upper circular open

base is a support for the condenser; the upper base has 4 concealed L-shape pipes which receive

the water drops from the notch of the condenser. The evaporator is made from transparence

plastic wall which allows sunlight to go through it to heat the water. The concealed pipes are

connected with the third part which is four dispensers. The dispensers receive water from pipes

and also receive nutrients to dispense it to the lower part of the fourth part which is the

containers. The dispensers are filled at the lower part with sand but at the top by degradable solid

boulders of nutrients for feeding plants with a specified time. The fourth part in the new device is

the floating circular plastic container which comprises 8 containers; the containers have two non

return valves at two different levels to drain the excess of water according to the predetermined

water and soil depth. The containers comprise 8 connected plastic zones which can be sized to

nest the planters in it, four planters are filled with soil or fill mix, however the other four planters

are empty zones which have non-return valves at the lower parts for feeding attached neighbor

dispensers and planters by collected rain water in winter seasons. Also these empty zones have

inverted planters or perforated covers to prevent bird nesting and to keep collected rain water

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from evaporation. The lower base of containers is provided with antibacterial foam sheets to float

all components of the new device and all system. The fifth part in the device is the planters or

gardens pots which are made from commercial materials from the market. The recommended

materials are the plastic pots which are perforated at its lower walls and the bottom. The size of

the pots can be adjusted according to the type of plants and the type of soil. The five main parts in

the device constitute one unit which can cover 4 square meters in circular shape, the arrangement

of 16 units in an array with 4units x 4 units which can form a module , the array which constitutes

a module can be repeated to form more modules. These modules can be fixed on the shore using

floating plastic hinges, robs and different fixing means as shown in figure (3).

4.2 Components of the New Device

The new device comprises:

1 Condenser 19 Notch or Groove

2 Evaporator 20 Intake of the Concealed Pipes

3 Perforated Planters 21 Ribs in Inner Condenser Surface

4 Water and Nutrients Dispenser 22 Heat Insulation

5 Non Return Valve 23 Wedges for Fixing the Robs

6 Concealed L-Shape Pipe (1.25cm) 24 Robs to Fix the Modulation system

7 Partitions 25 Floating Fixing Units

8 Floating Containers 26 Lower Open Base of Condenser

9 Polyurethane Base (Foam) 27 Open Upper Base of Evaporator

10 Fill Mix-Potting Soil, clay and sand 28 Open Lower Base of Evaporator

11 Perforated Partition 29 Submerged Wedge for Fixing Robs

12 Receiving Water Zone 30 Protruded Part for Receiving water

13 Receiving Nutrients Zone 31 Handling Hand

14 Outer Surface of the Evaporator 32 Saplings

15 Inner Surface of the Evaporator 33 Non-return valve at bed level

16 Outer Surface of the Condenser 34 Ridge to direct water

17 Inner Surface of the Condenser 35 Inverted planter or perforated cover

18 Male and Female Connection

5. Results and Discussion

5.1. Suitability of water for irrigation purposes

The agriculture expansion largely depends on the water resources and its quality. The suitability

of water for irrigation purposes beside the soil texture and salt tolerance of crops (to avoid any

harmful effect) are based on the quality standards for irrigation are the concentration of total salt

in the water, the concentration of specific ions that may be toxic to plants, the concentration of

cations that can cause damage in soil structure, the concentration of trace elements and cause

toxic for plants Ref. (13). The salinity or TDS is one of the most important parameters in

assessing the suitability of water for irrigation. The salinity of soil water is greatly affected by the

salinity of irrigated water and is affected by plant growth, crop yield and quality of products. As

dissolved salts of irrigated water increase, the osmotic potential of soil water increases, which

leads to an increase in the osmotic pressure of the soil solution. Therefore the amount of energy

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increases, which exerts by plant to take up water from the soil. Ref. (14), also electric

conductivity (EC) measures the ability of water to conduct electric current. It is sensitive to the

variations in dissolved solids, mostly mineral salts. Conductivity is expressed as micro Siemens

per centimeter (µS/cm) or micro mose per centimeter (µmose/cm) at 25

oC. It is primarily a

function of salinity or TDS. The pH is a measurement of the acid balance of a solution. It is an

important variable in water quality assessment as it influences many biological and chemical

processes within a water body and all processes associated with water supply and treatment Ref.

(18). The pH values of most natural water ranges between 6.0 and 8.5, although lower values can

occur in dilute water high in organic content and higher values in brine water. The pH of pure

water is 7 at 25oC. According to WHO (1984) Ref. (16), and FAO (1985) Ref. (14), the guideline

for pH in the drinking and irrigated water ranges between 6.5 and 8.5 in pure natural water.

the analysis of the collected data showed that, the (TDS) of the collected evaporated water ,the

collected rain water ,the brackish water samples and the samples of sea water were as follow,128

ppm,74 ppm, 6530 ppm and 33594 ppm respectively. The electrical conductivity (EC) analysis

showed that, the values of collected evaporated water, the collected rain water, the brackish water

sample and the sample of sea water were 200 µmose/cm/25oC, 200 µmose/cm/25

oC, 74 µmose

/cm/25oC, 10200 µmose /cm/25

oC, and 34000 µmose /cm/25

oC, respectively. The pH of the

collected evaporated water, the collected rain water, the brackish water and sea water samples

were 7.3, 6.9, 8.06, and 7.7, respectively as shown in table (1).

From the aforementioned values and classification of TDS, EC, and pH of the collected data, it is

concluded that the collected evaporated water sample from the new device and the collected rain

water sample are suitable for irrigation, but neither samples of sea water nor brackish water are

suitable for irrigation. A combination between both types of collected water (evaporated water

and rain water) it could be considered for using in irrigation purposes.

The collected data from lakes Marriott, Burullus, Manzala, Bardaueel and Edko showed that, the

minimum water depth was 30 cm in all lakes, but the average and maximum water depths were

65cm and 420 cm for Edko, 150 cm and 650 cm for Bardaueel, 80 cm and 180 cm for Burullus,

170 cm and 250 cm for Manzala and 83 cm and 630 cm for Marriott, respectively. It is clear from

the above data that all lakes are shallow and the proposed system could be tested in these depths

of water. The assessment of rain water amount which falls in the study area, also the rate of

evaporation in different areas near the aforementioned lakes is important to achieve the goals of

this research. The data were collected as mentioned in the experimental work as shown in table

(2). The volume of rain water (V) in cubic meters was calculated as the available surface water

area of lakes (A) in square meters multiplied by the depth of water (d) in meters per day for both

rain and evaporated water every month within one year (from January to December ). The

calculated values showed that the maximum amount of water was in January for both rain and

collected evaporated water and the minimum amount of water were in august. The total amount

of calculated rain water in one year which falls in the study area was 3438.16 million cubic meters

of water. Also the total calculated amount of water from evaporation was 890.06 million cubic meters. It is

noticed that the combination of rain water and the evaporated water were more than four milliards

of cubic meters of water. From the above discussion it is concluded that the amount of water

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which could be obtained in winter and summer seasons are acceptable for many seasonal crops

regarding to water requirements in Egypt.

Table (1) the suitability of collected water samples for irrigation

Sample No. Water Type pH TDS ppm

EC µmose /cm/25oC Suit. Irrigation

1 Collected Evaporated Water 7.3 128 200 Suitable

2 Collected Rain Water 6.9 74 74 Suitable

3 Brackish 8.06 6530 10200 Not Suitable

4 Sea water 7.7 33594 34000 Not Suitable

Table (2) Volume of evaporated water and rains in Edco,Bardaueel,Burullus,Manzala and Marriott

Lake Total

Area

Low

Depth

Average

Depth

Highest

Depth

%Area

of

Plants

Area

of

Plants

Net

Sur.Area

Volume

of Rains

Volume

Evap.w

M2

x106

cm cm cm M2

x106

M2

x106

M2 x10

6 M

3 x10

6 M

3 x10

6

Edco 62.78 30 65 420 68.7 43.15 19.62 108.86 13.20

Bardaueel 704.3 30 150 650 7.15

Rocks

7.15 697.15 1221.26 469.18

Burullus 463.81 30 80 180 45.94 213.07 250.73 804.25 168.74

Almanzala 689.01 30 170 250 51.84 357.18 331.82 1194.74 223.31

Marriott 62.89 30 83 630 63.1 39.68 23.21 109.05 15.62

Total

volume

M3 x10

6

3438.16 890.06

9

6. Conclusion and Recommendations

It could be concluded from the research that the new device comprises a new nonconventional

water resource method in harvesting rain water and condensing evaporated water from open

water surfaces for planting the shallow water surfaces near coastal zones using floating planters.

6.1 Advantages of the new device

- The new device could be used as a tool to harvest rain water as a non conventional

resources

- The new device could be used as a tool to condense evaporated salt water as a non

conventional resources

- The device should be tested for planting medicinal plants

- The new device is considered a tool for combination between rain water and evaporated

water.

6.2 Disadvantages of the new device

- The invasion of birds is not considered in the new device

- The crops that have tall stems are not recommended in this tool

- The crops which have more water requirements are not recommended in this research.

- The algae problem under the new device is not mentioned in the research.

- The economical study should be carried out to evaluate the device as a non conventional

water resource.

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7. Figures

Figure (1) the experimental colored pans showing floating sheets with different plants

Figure (2) side cross section view for the new proposed device shore fixing system

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Figure (3) side cross section view for the device showing evaporator, condenser and different components

Figure (4) plan view for the new proposed device showing planters and different components

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8. References

1) M.El-Kady,F.El-Shibini,(2001), “Desalination in Egypt and the Future application in

Supplementary Irrigation” Elsevier Science B.V.-Desalination 136(2001) 36-72.

2) Hamid El-Sebaly,et al. (2006), “Floating device for germination of seeds and growing of

seedlings and plant cuttings “invention publication number WO2006099879 A1.

3) Richard J.Schuck (2005), “Floating island planting system “invention publication number US

6918206 B2.

4) Masatoshi Ishikawa, et al. (1996), “Floating island with water-purifying effect, plant-

cultivation bag and method for purifying water” invent. Publication number EP 0737418 A2.

5) Rolf Arnold,Anna-Maria Barttl,Evelin Hufinagl (1999), invention publication number, DE

19654031 C2, with title” Floating Island textile plants “.

6) Kania Bruce G.,Stewart Frank M. (2008), invention publication number, WO 2008048778

A2, with title “Highly buoyant and semi-rigid floating islands “.

7) Thomas NColman,et al.(2006), invention publication number, WO 2005115129 A3, with

title “Super-enhanced, adjustably buoyant floating island “.

8) Bruce G.Kania,et al. (2013), invention publication number , EP 2468088 B1,with title

“Super-enhanced, adjustably buoyant floating island “.

9) Richard D.Morris,(1996),invention publication number, WO 1996034793 A1, with title

“Artificial floating island “

10) Kania Bruce G,Stewart Frank M.,(2007),invention publication number, WO 2007124226 A2,

with title “Buoyant wetland system “.

11) The Chinese invention publication number, CN 101508490 B, in (2011), with title “Sea water

resistant ecological floating bed “.

12) Prieto Javier Riesco,Prieto Pablo Riesco,Junco Vicente Juan Torres.(2011), invention

publication number, EP 2295382 A1, with title “Floating cell and island with a floating

macrophyte filter “.

13) FAO, 1998, an overview of pollution of water by agriculture. J.A. Sagardoy In: Prevention of

Water Pollution by Agriculture and Related Activities, Proceedings of the FAO Expert

Consultation, Santiago, Chile, 20-23 Oct. 1998. Water Report 1, pp. 19-26.

14) FAO, 1985, Water Quality for Agriculture, FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper No. 29, rev. 1,

Rome.

15) FAO, 1997, Social and Political Changes and Food Security, background paper prepared for

the World Food Summit, Rome, 8p.

16) World Health Organization, WHO, 1984, Guidelines for drinking water quality, V. 1,

Geneva, Switzerland.

17) Khallaf, M. A. K.; (2006): “Hydro chemical Studies on Groundwater in North Egypt and

Libya). Ph. D. Thesis, African Research and Studies Institute, Cairo Univ., p. 230.

18) Chapman,D, 1992, “Water Quality Assessments”. Chapman & Hall Ltd, London Davis,

S.N.and De WIEST.R.J.M (1966). "Hydrology". Willy, New York.