Studying of Physio-chemical Properties of the Groundwater in AL-A’lam City

Abstract

The present study was conducted for eight wells that are distributed in A’alam subdistrict in Salah al-Din province to assess the groundwater quality in this area. Water samples from these wells were taken during three months periods, one sample per month. Some physical and chemical properties of the water samples were tested by conducting on-site and laboratory tests. The water temperatures of the wells were recorded to assess its relationship with many properties of the water, including basal. The results indicated that the water of the studied wells was warm during the study period, and its temperature range was (19-24) ° C. The pH was measured and also its values were in the range (7.44-8.4). The values of total dissolved solids exceeded the permissible limits, with a minimum value of (1930) mg/L which is higher than the permissible limit in the drinking water relating to the Iraqi standard and the specifications of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), (1000) mg/L. This increase led to a significant increase in the electrical conductivity values, which reached its lowest recorded value of (3940) microsmins/cm, which is above the permissible limit (1500) microsmins/cm. The concentration of chloride ion, which is in the range (482.7-1053) mg/L and sulfur ions, which recorded its lowest value (411) mg/L, and also this exceeded the permissible limits for both ions (250) mg/L according to the Iraqi standard and WHO standards. The study covered all the studied wells water, and its depth are found in the range (80-160) meters, which is very hard water, with a concentration of (180) mg/L. The results indicate that the water was permanently exposed to pollution and is far from optimal for most of the time. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to produce spatial maps of the study area showing the distribution of the characteristics studied, thus providing a future database for the region, which could be used to diagnose pollution wherever it would be found.

Keywords

• AL-A’lam City
• GIS, Groundwater
• Physiochemical properties
• , temperature.