Groundwater quality assessment of shallow aquifers in Northeastern Waist Governorates, East of Iraq

Abstract EN

The present study focused on assessing the groundwater quality of the shallow aquifer in the northeastern Wasit Governorate, Iraq.

The physicochemical parameters, including major cation and anion compositions, pH, total dissolved solid and electrical conductivity were used to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purpose by comparing it with the World health organization (WHO, 2011) and Iraqi standards (IQS, 2009).

Total dissolved solid (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC), permeability index (PI), and Magnesium ratio (MR) were used for irrigation suitability assessment.

For this purpose, 67 samples were collected from the scattered shallow wells in the study area.

Results indicated that the spatial distribution of TDS, EC values and major ions in these groundwater samples considerably differs from site to another mainly due to the lithological variations of the area.

The dominant factors in controlling the groundwater hydrogeochemistry are chemical evaporation and weathering.

Geochemical modeling approach was used to calculate the saturation state of some selected minerals, i.e.

explaining the rock-water interactions occurring in the groundwater.

The studied groundwater samples in the study area were found to be oversaturated with carbonate minerals and undersaturated with evaporates minerals.

Results showed that most of the groundwater samples were unsuitable for drinking purposes.

On the other hand, most groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation purposes based on sodium and salinity hazards.

However, soil type as well as proper selection of plants should be taken into consideration.