Using Water Quality Index to Assessment of Ground Water Quality for Drinking Uses in Tuzkhurmatu City, Iraq

Shahad Adil F.  Al-Qaraghuli; Linaz Anis  Fadhil; Wafaa Ismail  Saad; Ahmed Abbas  Hasan

doi:10.17605/cajmns.v6i2.2726

Shahad Adil F. Al-Qaraghuli AlKarkh University of Science, College of Remote Sensing and Geophysics, Geophysics Department
Linaz Anis Fadhil AlKarkh University of Science, College of Remote Sensing and Geophysics, Geophysics Department
Wafaa Ismail Saad Al-Mustansiriya University, College of Education, Geography Department
Ahmed Abbas Hasan AlKarkh University of Science, College of Remote Sensing and Geophysics, Remote Sensing Department

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/cajmns.v6i2.2726

Keywords: Groundwater, Water Quality Index, Drinking Water, Chemical Characteristics, Tuzkhurmatu City

Abstract

A criteria for assessing the quality of water and determining its suitability for varies uses is the Water Quality Index. For examining the general chemical properties of water quality, the Water Quality Index (WQI) is a crucial and effective instrument. 16 groundwater samples, in total, were gathered and their principal cations and anions were examined used at Tuzkhurmatu city in Salah Aldeen governorate, Iraq. 12 parameters including: sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), bicarbonate (HCO3), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) has been used to applied WQI . The computed WQI values varied from 56.73 (sample 2) to 1072.69 (sample 4). Calculated WQI results showed four classes: unsuitable water in samples (1, 4, 10) with the percentage of 18.7%, very poor water in samples (11, 14) with the percentage of 12.5%, poor water in samples (5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16) with the percentage of 50% and good water in samples (2, 3, 7) with the percentage 18.7%. TDS values ranged between 436 and 20780 mg/l, most of ground water samples classified as brackish water, saline water and fresh water. EC values ranged between 620 and 26250 (µs/cm), most of groundwater samples categorized as excessively mineralized water. TH values ranged between 310.83 and 7556.92 (mg/l), all ground water samples categorized as vary hard water. To ascertain if the groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purpose, the TDS, EC and TH results of groundwater samples were compared with the world health organization (WHO) and Iraq quality standard (IQS) to determine its suitability for drinking purpose indicate to the all ground water samples exceeded permissible limits aimed at drinking water value except samples (2,3,5,7) are not exceeded permissible limits. It was clear from the water quality assessment that the most of Tuzkhurmatu city ground water was unsuitable for drinking. The findings of this research indicate to decrease the groundwater quality this might be as a result for anthropogenic activities around the sampling area mainly sewer waste water contamination sources within water samples from the studied area.

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