Groundwater Hydrochemistry and Aquifer Identification at Wana Area, Northwest of Mosul, Iraq

Abstract

The suitability of groundwater for various uses is primarily determined by its major ions content, which is determined by its hydrochemical properties, including geogenic and anthropogenic factors. To gain a deeper understanding of groundwater management and sustainability in Wana, one of the most important agricultural areas northwest of Mosul, 18 wells were chosen and groundwater samples were taken from them over two seasons (October 2020 and April 2021) and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The Piper diagram revealed that the most common type of groundwater in the study area is Ca-SO4. The mineral saturation index, cation exchange values, and Gibbs diagram results revealed that rock dissolution and weathering processes, including both gypsum and carbonate rocks, dominated the chemistry of groundwater in the region, with clastic rocks and ion exchange processes having a limited effect. This is also confirmed by the findings of the Principal Component Analysis, which further revealed that there is an effect of an anthropogenic factor caused by agricultural activities on the concentration of NO3-. The Cluster Analysis results revealed three groups of wells based on the water-bearing layers: those that draw water from the Quaternary deposits aquifer, those that draw water from the Fatha Formation aquifer, and those that draw water from both aquifers. The findings of this study can contribute to the preservation and sustainability of groundwater, as well as the optimal management of this crucial resource in the studied region.