Hydrochemical assessment of water resources in al-Teeb area, ne Moissan governorate, south Iraq

Abstract EN

Groundwater and seasonal Al-Teeb River are the main sources of water in the study area, which is characterized by arid to semiarid climate.

The hydrochemical study involved the analysis of major cations and anions, trace elements and physical properties; the total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH, for 16 groundwater samples and 4 river water samples of the period 2014 – 2015.

Groundwater samples were collected from 14 wells from the Quaternary unconfined aquifer, in addition to 2 well samples from the Tertiary confined aquifer.

The water from the river and from the groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer is classified according to the TDS as moderately brackish water, whereas, the groundwater of the Tertiary aquifer is less saline and some wells are classified as fresh water.

Moreover, the type of water for most samples is (Na – Sulphate).

Chemical analyses of trace elements of all samples show an increase in the concentration of lead, nickel and cadmium that exceeds their standards limit according to the World Health and the Iraqi Standards, whereas iron and manganese exceed their standard limits in some samples.

Piper diagram classification shows that the water type for all samples is earth alkaline with an increase proportion of alkalis (Na2+ + K + ) and prevailing sulfate and chloride ions.

These result are the same for both surface and groundwater samples for the two seasons.

Such water is mostly unsuitable for human and building uses, but it is suitable for livestock and permissible for irrigation, with the exception of two samples from the Tertiary aquifer which are almost suitable for all purposes other than human consumption.