In this paper a part of results of the wastewater quality control from the Thermal Power Plant "Kostolac", water from the rivers Danube and Mlava, and groudwaters near by (Serbia, Yugoslavia), is considered. In order to protect environment from the effects of hurtful substances make during working process of Thermal Power Plant "Kostolac" is especially does using solid fuel (coal), the Institute of Public Health of Serbia following an approved program checks upon the quality of groundwaters, water the rivers Danube and Mlava including the wastewater from the Thermal Power Plant "Kostolac", four times a year. The results of our research point out to the hurtful effects of the wastewater from Thermal Power Plant "Kostolac" on the groundwater.

Our field survey showed that thequality of shallow groundwater around the KatsuraRiver in the Kyoto Basin was strongly affected by theinfiltration of river water. Furthermore, that thedeterioration of the groundwater in the southern areato the west of the Katsura River may be related to theincrease in groundwater extraction. To clarify themechanism of groundwater deterioration, we havedeveloped a stochastic method to simulate groundwaterflow. The results showed that there was a largereduction in the groundwater level where groundwaterextraction was intense and recharge flowed from theKatsura River to the high extraction areas in thesouthern region. Another simulation showed that if thegroundwater extraction was 10% of the present removalrate, there would be little recharge from the KatsuraRiver into the groundwater and the quality of thegroundwater would be improved. Thus, we conclude thatthe cause of groundwater deterioration is probably dueto the induced recharge of deteriorated river waterfrom the Katsura River.

The maintenance of safe-drivingconditions in snow and ice-affected areas in thewintertime includes the use of sodium chloride (NaCl)as de-icing salts. In this study, the impact of NaClon soil-colloid mobilisation and exchangeablebase-cation leaching has been evaluated. The chemistryof groundwater samples below an infiltration trenchfor highway runoff and leachate from column studiessuggested that soil-colloid mobilisation had occurred,as the exchangeable sodium (Na) concentration and theelectrical conductivity (EC) in the groundwater/columnleachate reached the threshold values for colloiddispersion. Generally, samples with no dispersionproblems had high Na and calcium (Ca) concentrations,suggesting that the initial effect of the de-icingsalt was to stabilise the colloids. In the columnstudy there was a good agreement between the degree ofcolloid dipersion problems and lead (Pb) concentrationwhen the pH value was above 7.0. Significant negativecorrelations between Na/CEC (cation exchange capacity)and Ca/CEC in roadside soils from three sitesindicated that Na preferentially displaces Ca from theexchange sites. However, the groundwater dataindicated that Na ions also displace potassium (K) andmagnesium (Mg). A positive effect of NaCl seen at onesite was an increase in the K concentration, which ishighly likely an effect of Na ions displacing fixed Kbetween the layers of 2:1 type clay minerals. In soilslacking these types of clay minerals, severe Kshortage may result from a high plant demand combinedwith the low K concentration in the readily availablefractions in the original soil and a highsusceptibility to leaching. The most significantimpact on soil exchange processes was found to occurwithin 6 m from the road.

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.