CORRELATION BETWEEN SALINITY AND WATER QUALITY IN COASTAL BRACKISH LAGOONS

The British University in Egypt, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo, Egypt

The water quality problems in coastal lagoon environment resulting from changes to water

and salinity budgets are reported. Direct linkage is determined between levels of water and

salinity and that of water quality indicators. As an example of a habitat under threat, a microtidal

lagoon in southern England, the Widewater Lagoon, is considered. Engineering

interventions for remedial measures along with their advantages and disadvantages of each

measure are highlighted. Such measures are believed to be crucial in devising rigorous

strategies for managing the environment of coastal lagoons.

Both economic and social considerations should, however, be included in deciding the

suitable solution to be implemented. Finally, scope for future studies is proposed which

emphasise the importance of developing reliable database and creating a vulnerability (risk)

map to identify locations in the lagoon exposed to considerable environmental strain.