Pollution assessment of Euphrates River in three governances of Iraq

Abstract

This study was concerned with assessment the water quality of Euphrates River in the middle of Iraq. Water quality assessment is the overall process of evaluation of the physical, chemical and biological nature of the water. Water pollution for Euphrates River in Middle of Iraq (Babylon, Al-Najaf, and Al-Diwaniya governorates) occurs in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, drinking water from natural sources such as rivers and streams is usually polluted by organic substances from upstream users who use water for agricultural activities. To protect the water resources from pollution and deterioration which caused by natural pollutants or human activities, an environmental database was constructed and applied. A Visual Basic (version 6.0) Software program was constructed to evaluate the pollutant concentrations using regression models obtained by Data Fit Software program (version 8.0) to make the monitoring system. The result of the program is verified with data of year 2008 which is not included in regression model. This verification shows a good agreement with coefficient of determination ranged between “0.914 to 0.994”To assess water body for compliance with standards that have been set to define requirements for various functions and uses, the water body concerned, were compared with the Iraqi, and WHO standards for domestic and irrigation purposes, for determining whether water quality at sampling sites exceeds water quality standards. A comparison shows that these parameters in some stations are within the Iraqi and WHO standards (i.e. total dissolved solids (TDS): in Al-Musaib, Al-Kufa, Al-Shamya station), and (calcium (Ca): in Al-Hindya Barrage station).