Water is the basis of life and the most important medium for absorbing and carrying heavy metals and reaching them to the human body [1]. Several countries rely on alternative water resources due to shortage of water resources. Use of healthy drinking water is one of the necessary factors in water consumption, which has always been of interest to environmental health organizations [2]. A large number of mineral compounds, especially metal ions, have a dual role in the physiology of the human body, some are essential for humans, whereas most of them are toxic at high concentrations [3-4]. Small quantities of certain trace elements are nutritionally essential for a healthy life. Lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium is cusses often to human poisoning in case presents by high concentration.  Copper, zinc and chromium are required by the body in lese amounts, but can also be toxic in larger concentration. This elements have capability diffuse in wastewaters and then transfer into surface waters,  and  can transfer into groundwater, hence contaminating drinking water, then harming the consumers of that water [5]. Usually heavy metals are present in municipal, industrial wastewater and Agricultural drainage, which can be damaging to humans and biotic life. And the biggest reason for the problem of increasing heavy elements is the increase in the population and their concentration in limited places, with progresses in industrial and agricultural activity, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Trace elements like copper are from the essential but show toxoid if in excess amounts in drinking water. Also Cadmium is hugely toxic despite in low concentrations, and will accumulate in organisms and ecosystems and it has along biological half -life in the human body, ranging from 10 to 33 years [6]. Trace elements have atomic density greater than 6 g/cm3, are one of the highest constant pollutants in water. Deferent from another pollutants, they are arduous to degrade, but can accumulate throughout the food chain, producing potential human health risks and ecological disturbances [7-11] minted that Chemical pollution is one of the most critical threats to human populations and aquatic ecosystems.

Location of the Study Area

Study area is located between Latitude 260 45- N, 280 40- N and longitude 300 30- E along Minia district, 310 00- along Assiut district (Figure 1a) It is about 250 km in length (approximately) and 20-28 km in width. According to [12], the River Nile from Aswan to Cairo receives wastewater discharge from 124 point sources, of which 67 are agricultural drains and the remainders are industrial sources. [13] mentioned that the chemical substances which affect the quality of water are numerous, act in a great range of concentration and vary continuously and erratically in concentration. The attempt to establish criteria in terms of chemicals toxicity to aquatic organisms may exceeds the capability of adequate testing due to the large number of toxic compounds, the vast numbers of biotic species, the effects of interaction among compounds and the wide range of effect produced by variations in physical and chemical condition. The River Nile forms the main water resource of  Minia and Assuit district  (share about 5 BCm/year)about 85% used for agriculture, 1.25% for drinking and domestic purpose and 14.74 % for industrial and other purposes from River Nile and Four main canal (Ibrahemia canal, Baher youssfe canal, West Nage Hamade canal and East Nag Hamade canal ). El-Moheet is a main drain in Minia district, which receives both industrial effluents and municipal wastewater, in addition to agricultural wastewater. Consequently, El-Moheet drain considered one of the highest polluted waterways flow back into the River Nile. As such, mixing drainage water with the fresh water for irrigation purposes makes the use of this water risky for public health [14]. Also El Zenar drain is a main drain in Assiut district receives both industrial effluents and municipal addition to agricultural wastewater and flow back into the River Nile [15].

Figure 1(a): Map of the Study area.

The results of the present study clearly demonstrate that surface water resources in the study are is contaminated with heavy metals as the following: high Cd ion concentration shown in River Nile along El Minia district (Samples from 1 to 7), samples 28 (in Arab El Madabek canal), 39 (in Bane Ghaleb canal), 40 (in El Hedaia canale)and 47,48 ( in El Moheet drain).High Cr ion concentration shown in River Nile along El Minia district (Samples from 1 to 7). high Pb ion concentration shown in River Nile along El Minia district (Samples from 1 to 7), samples 13 (in River Nile at Assiut distrect), from 21 to 26 (in El Ebrahemia canal along El Minia distrect), 39 (in Bane Ghaleb canale), from 41 to 45 (in Bahre yossef canale along El Minia distrec) and from 46 to 48 and 51(in El Mohet and El Zenar drains). high Ni ion concentration shown in all surface water samples along the study area (River Nile, irrigation canals and drain canals except samples from 21 to 27 in El Ebrahemia canal. high Mn ion concentration shown in irrigation canals samples 30.31and 33 (El Ebrahemia, El Waledia canales).high B ion concentration shown only in ElMoheet and El Zenar drain. high Fe ion concentration shown in irrigation canals (Samples 28, 31- 36 and 38 to 40) and 51 in El Zenar drain. 

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