Spatial and temporal variation of water quality index of Euphrates River in Anbar Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the spatio-temporal variation of water quality index (WQI) of Euphrates River in Anbar Governorate. The water samples were collected from nine stations in 2018.Fifteen water quality parameters namely, pH, temperature (T), turbidity (TUR) dissolved oxygen(DO), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), sulfate ion (SO42−), Chloride ion(Cl), nitrate ion (NO3−), Phosphate ion (PO4), total hardness (T.H), Alkalinity (Alk), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and total bacteria (TB) were measured for calculation of the WQI using the methodology of Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). The WQI level of Euphrates River in the study area during 2018 ranges from 43.33 to 64.8 with mean of 55.10. According to the mean value of WQI, the water quality is mostly classified as “marginal” for overall drinking water utilities in the period of research. In general, the result of temporal variation analysis of WQI shows “marginal” water quality in most months, except of January and September, the water quality is fair and poor, respectively. The result of the spatial variation analysis exhibits marginal water quality in all sampling stations and the WQI value decreases in the downstream stations. Compared to the result of a previous study, the water quality of the Euphrates River in the research region retained its marginal status. The deterioration of Euphrates River water can be ascribed to anthropogenic activities.