The vitality, vulnerability, and evidence of pollution of the groundwater resources in Egypt are all necessitating the protection of the valuable resource. However, due to the historic dependence on Nile water and also due to the misconception of complete natural protection, major actions regarding regulation and protection were restricted to surface water. This situation resulted in total absence of a framework for the management of groundwater protection in the country. Experiences in Europe and the United States have shown that groundwater protection is technically a complex issue, requiring the preparation of a conceptual framework that addresses/identifies the main technical issues/tools of the protection. In this paper, a description of the criteria proposed for the groundwater protection management in Egypt is given. The criteria were prepared in the form of guidelines constituting of a conceptual framework and the technical tools needed for achieving the proposed framework. Along with the technical tools, recommendations regarding their application and other specific protection issues were given based on pilot area application.

Athabasca Oil Sands are found in the McMurray formation in the Athabasca River Basin in Northern Alberta, Canada. Monitoring studies conducted during 1998-1200, have indicated that there is a preponderance of oil sands-derived hydrocarbons, primarily PAHs, their C14 alkylated analogues, and biomarkers, in downstream sediment samples of the tributaries relative to the upstream samples. The relative composition of these hydrocarbons are diagnostic of a petrogenic source, and provides a fingerprint for characterization of biofilm samples, aquatic invertebrates, and sediments in northern rivers and tributaries. Results of GC-MS analyses of sediments, confirm that the tributaries passing through the Fort McMurray oil sands regions contain significant levels of naturally derived hydrocarbons (2-50 mg/g). Field activities in heavily impacted areas should therefore continue to emphasize the tributaries draining through oil sands deposits, as opposed to the main-stem of the Athabasca River where hydrocarbon levels are subject to dilution from high sedimentation rates.