In Dakhla oasis, Western Desert of Egypt, groundwater is the only resource for all anthropogenic activities. During the last 50 years, the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) has been undergoing serious stress through withdrawing its storage. Plans for expanding the agricultural areas in Dakhla oasis were given by the government. This article is an attempt to investigate the best management option that meets development ambitions and groundwater availability. Based on a calibrated regional three-dimensional groundwater flow model for the NSAS using FEFLOW, a refined (high resolution) local scale model was developed to simulate and predict the impact of applying the actual and planned extractions rates on Dakhla oasis. Five management scenarios were suggested. The application of the actual extraction rate of 1.2 × 106 m3/day for the oasis for the next 90 years resulted in a drawdown of 75 m and a depth to groundwater up to 75 m with an annual change in hydraulic head of 0.57 m. At the end of this simulation, only a few wells at the west of the oasis will still be free flowing. The application of the planned extraction rate (1.7 × 106 m3/day) resulted in great depths to groundwater (>100 m) and formed huge cones of depressions that connected together to cover the whole oasis and extend further beyond its borders. It was found that the best option for groundwater management in the oasis is the implementation of an extraction rate of 1.46 × 106 m3/day, as the depths to groundwater will never exceed the 100 m limit.

The degradation efficiency and kinetic degradation reaction of Ponceau 6R dye using potassium chromate have been investigated under various experimental conditions: different concentrations of H2SO4 and temperatures. The immediate change of the red coloration (kmax= 518 nm) to colorless was observed after addition of inorganic oxidizing agent (K2CrO4) into the protonated form of Ponceau 6R dye after 48 h. This observation could be attributed to the highest oxidized form of this dye obtained (the quinoid one), which undergoes a hydrolysis reaction to produce p-hydroquinone (H2Q) by a mechanism similar to Schiff-base hydrolysis. The cationic form of this matrix is a crucial feature for the hydrolysis process. A kinetic model for oxidation of Ponceau 6R by the combination of chromate was developed based on experimental results. The observed kinetic reaction coefficient was determined and correlated as a function of UV spectral intensity of Ponceau 6R at 518 nm. The degradation rate follows pseudo-first order kinetics with respect to dye concentration.