Abstract
This study aims to assess the suitability of surface water and groundwater resources for irrigation and potable use by the rural communities in the Western Desert of Iraq. Sampling was conducted during the wet season (Jan 2012). Duplicate water and sediment samples were collected from the Euphrates River, connate water springs and meteoric groundwater. Water samples were analyzed for a suite of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Co, Cd and Ni). The H2S content of water samples was also determined as were heavy metals levels in riverine sediments. The water in the Euphrates River is fresh (701 ppm) dominated by Ca–Na–Cl ions with elevated concentrations of PO4, Pb and Cd (2.0, 0.023 and 0.02 ppm, respectively) due to the effects of agricultural land uses in the region. Shallow groundwater in the region is fresh to brackish due to the water–aquifer interaction that resulted in heterogeneity groundwater dominated by Cl, Ca–Mg–Cl and Ca–HCO3. Connate water springs in the region are associated with deep circulation of groundwater. Springs are characterized by brackish to saline water type dominated by Na–Cl and typically have acidic pH values. They are not suitable for irrigation or potable use due to the high TDS (7182 ppm) and dissolved H2S gas contents (120–865 ppm). Low concentrations of H2S gas (4.0 ppm) were detected in the Euphrates River, while they were not detected in the meteoric groundwater. The meteoric waters from the Euphrates River and some groundwater wells are suitable for potable use, but all are suitable for irrigation with attention to the potential-Mg hazard.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Jebari M, Hasan M, Abdelrahman E (2002) National program for the best use of water resources versus the Euphrates basin, a comprehensive book. Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Iraq
Alsam SI, Jassim SZ, Hanna F (1990) Water balance of Iraq: stage 2, geological and hydrological conditions. Manuscript report, Minstry of irrigation, Iraq
APHA (1995) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington DC
APHA (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington
Awadh SM, Ahmed RM (2013) Hydrochemistry and pollution probability of selected sites along the Euphrates River. Western Iraq Arab J Geosci 6:2501–2518
Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1985) Water quality for Agriculture. FAO Irriga Drain Pap 29(1):1–109
Bauder TA, Waskom RM, Davis JG (2010) Irrigation water quality criteria. Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins
Bokhari AY, Khan MZA (1992) Deterministic modeling of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah groundwater quality using lumped parameter approach. J King Abdul Aziz Univ Earth Sci 5:89–107
Domenico PA, Schwartz FW (1998) Physical and chemical hydrogeology, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, p 506
Drever JI (1988) The geochemistry of natural waters. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Eaton FM (1950) Significance of carbonate in irrigation waters. Soil Sci 67(3):128–133
Geurts JM, Sarneel JM, Willers BGC, Roelofs JGM, Verhoeven JTA, Lamers LPM (2009) Interacting effect of sulphate pollution, sulphide toxicity and eutrophication on vegetation development in fens, A mesocosm experiment. Environ Pollut 175:2072–2081
Guendouz A, Moulla AS, Edmunda WM, Zouari K, Shand P, Mamou A (2003) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evolution of water in the complex terminal aquifer in the Algerian Sahara. Hydrogeol J 11:483–495
Hakim MA, Juraimi AS, Begum M, Hasanuzzaman M, Uddin MK, Islam MM (2009) Suitability evaluation of groundwater for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes. Am J Environ Sci 5(3):413–419
Hem JD (1975) Study and interpretation of chemical characteristics of natural water, 3rd edn. U.S.G.S. Water Supply paper 1473
Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, 3rd edn. US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Hem JD (1992) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. US Geological Survey. Water-Supply Paper 2254
Horneck DS, Ellsworth JW, Hopkins BG, Sullivan DM, Stevens RG (2007) Managing salt-affected soils for crop production. PNW 601-E. Oregon State University, University of Idaho, Washington State University
IHD-WHO Working group (1978) Water quality surveys UNESCO, SHO, United Kingdom
Iraqi Standards (2009) Iraqi standard of drinking water no. 417; modification no. 1
Karanth KB (1997) Groundwater assessment, development and management. McGraw-Hill Publishers, New Delhi
Katz BG, Gopalan TB, Bullen TD, Davis JH (1998) Use of chemical and isotopic tracers to characterize the interaction between groundwater and surface water in mantled karst. Groundw J 35:1014–1028
Kelley WP (1940) Permissible composition and concentration of irrigation water. Proc Am Soc Civil Eng 66:607–613
Kelley WP (1963) Use of saline irrigation water. Soil Sci 95(4):355–391
Lindsay WL (1979) Chemical equilibria in soils. Wiley, New York
Maya AL, Loucks MD (1995) Solute and isotopic geochemistry and groundwater flow in the Central Wasatch Range, Utah. J Hydrol 172:31–59
Nagaraju A, Suresh S, Killham K, Hudson-Edwards K (2006) Hydrogeochemistry of waters of mangampeta barite mining area, Cuddapah Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. Turk J Eng Environ Sci 30:203–219
NIC (National Investment Commission) (2004) Iraqi investment map. Republic of Iraq, Presidency of the council of Ministries, National Investment Commission
Paliwal KV (1967) Effect of gypsum application on the quality of irrigation waters. Madras Agric J 59:646–647
Raghunath HM (1987a) Ground water: hydrogeology, ground water survey and pumping test, rural water supply and irrigation systems. Wiley, New York
Raghunath IM (1987b) Groundwater, 2nd edn. Wiley, New Delhi
Szabolcs I, Darab C (1964) The influence of irrigation water of high sodium carbonate content of soils. In: Proceedings of 8th International Congress of ISSS, Transportation, vol II, pp 803–812
Todd DK (1980) Groundwater hydrology, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
Trivedy RR, Goel PR (1986) Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies. Environmental Publications, Karad
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (1992) World atlas of desertification, London
Valdez-Aguilar LA, Grieve CM, Poss J (2009) Salinity and alkaline pH in irrigation water affect Marigold Plants: I. Growth and Shoot Dry Weight Partitioning. HortScience 44(6):1719–1725
Wen XH, Wu YQ, Wu J (2008) Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Zhangye basin, northwestern China. Environ Geol 55:1713–1724
Wilcox LV (1948) The quality of water for irrigation water use. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin 1962, Washington DC, USA
Wilcox LV (1955) Classification and use of irrigation waters. United States Department of Agriculture, Circular No. 696, Washington DC
Wolfgany KP, Philip B (2003) Sustainable groundwater management problems and scientific tools. Epis J 26(4):279–284
World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) Guideline for drinking water quality, 1st edn. Addendum to the 3edn, vol 1: recommendations. World Health Organization, Geneva
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Awadh, S.M. A preliminary assessment of the geochemical factors affecting groundwater and surface water quality around the rural communities in Al-Anbar, Western Desert of Iraq. Environ Earth Sci 77, 83 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7262-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7262-4