Assessment of Shatt Al-Arab River water quality by using palmer's algal index, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract EN

Monthly Algal samples were collected from selected three sampling station of Shatt Al-Arab River from August 2016 to July 2017.

The most pollution tolerant genera and species of four groups of algae were recorded from three sites of the river.Palmer (1969) Algal Genus pollution index and Algal species pollution index were employed to study the water quality of Shatt Al-Arab River.

The total score of Algal Genus pollution index of station 1, 2 and 3 were 21, 24 and 21 respectively.

While total score from the Algal species pollution index at station (1) was 18, station (2) was 21, While at station (3) was 17 recorded from Shatt Al-Arab River.

The total score of each station was greater than 20 indicating the confirmed high organic pollution.

The present study showed that the water quality of Shatt Al-Arab River was affected from domestic uses at the downstream of the river.