Hydrochemistry of the Injana Unconfined Aquifer in Ameriat Al-Falluja, Iraq

Abstract

Water samples were collected from 15 wells in Ameriat Al-Falluja, in two periods in order to study the groundwater hydrochemistry characteristics and evaluation the quality of the groundwater to determine their suitability for different uses. Hydrochemistry includes analyses of major constituents (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, Cl-, SO42-and HCO3-), and minor ionic (NO3-, PO4-3) as well as trace elements (Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, and Zn). The results indicate that Ca2+ is the most common cation, which could be due to carbonate rock dissolution, and that SO42- is the most common anion, which could be due to the presence of gypsum and anhydrite in the Fatha Fn., which is the underlying the Injana Formation. Trace elements Cu, Mn, Cr, and Zn were all below the permissible limits, while Pb, Ni, and Cd exceeded them. According to the salinity, groundwater samples for two periods were classified as excessively mineralized water, while they were categorized as brackish water, except the sample no. 5 in the dry period, which was salty due to the Total Dissolved Solids values. During the two periods, the groundwater was also categorized as very hard water. CaSO4, CaCl, NaCl, and Na2SO4 are the most prevalent salts in the water samples from both times. For two periods, the chloride-sulfate type of groundwater was present. The findings of the investigations show that the groundwater is unfit for human consumption but it is ideal for irrigation.