Abstract
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.
Highlights
The rapid growth of the population accompanies significant industrial and agricultural development that impacts the environment with all its components, and it impacts the surface water
There was a positive correlation between temperature increases and the total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations in Shatt Al-Arab River (SAA) River as a result of high rates of evaporation leading to increased salt concentration [59]
The spatial distribution of TDS found that high concentrations of TDS were observed in the central of SAA during winter 2018
Summary
The rapid growth of the population accompanies significant industrial and agricultural development that impacts the environment with all its components, and it impacts the surface water. About 90% of the polluted water discharged into rivers and streams, especially in developing countries [1,2,3,4,5]. One-third of the world suffers from a severe shortage of safe drinking water [6]. The stressed in global water resources for drinking, food protection, and environmental protection increased due to world population growth [6,7,8]. Iraq is considered an arid and semi-arid country. Water shortage problems are even more challenging in this country. Due to the decreasing recharge of the Euphrates River, Tigris River, and Shatt Al-Arab River (SAA), Iraq is facing
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