Evaluation of Water Quality Parameters in Shatt AL-Arab, Southern Iraq, Using Spatial Analysis

• Published in: Hydrology 2020-12, Vol.7 (4), p.79
• Main Authors: Lateef, Zahraa Q., Al-Madhhachi, Abdul-Sahib T., Sachit, Dawood E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arabian Gulf; River of Shatt Al-Arab; salinity water; spatial analysis; water quality parameters
• ISSN: 2306-5338; 2306-5338
• DOI: 10.3390/hydrology7040079

The present work illustrates the potential application of techniques of spatial analysis via geographic information systems (GIS) to categorize the distribution of temporal and spatial of water prediction characteristics to determine the water quality parameters of the Shatt Al-Arab River (SAA), southern Iraq. Eight main water quality parameters and three heavy metals were measured from December 2018 to October 2019. The total dissolved solids, chloride, sulfate, and total hardness were compared with previous data that were measured from 2014 to 2018 based on data availability. The geochemical characteristics were also investigated to analyze water quality parameters. The study was performed by selecting eleven stations according to the nature areas of SAA. Water samples were acquired from the eleven stations for four seasons (winter of 2018 through autumn of 2019). Results revealed that total dissolved solids ranged between 950 to 8500 mg/L, total hardness varied from 400 to 2394 mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the sulfate ranged from 149 to 1602 mg/L, and chloride ranged from 330 to 3687 mg/L. The results showed that SAA had high salinity with a low hazard of sodicity. The SAA waters mainly fall below the Dolomite-Magnesite tie-lines which indicated the dissolution of carbonate rocks. This research also found that the study area confined from Al-Maqal station to Abu Flus port station where the salty marine water coming from the Arabian Gulf remains for longer periods. The SAA is not suitable for drinking and irrigation water according to Iraqi and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This study suggested building a blocking dam downstream of the SAA to prevent salty water from coming back from Arabian Gulf.