The present study focused on assessing the groundwater quality of the shallow aquifer in the northeastern Wasit Governorate, Iraq. The physicochemical parameters, including major cation and anion compositions, pH, total dissolved solid and electrical conductivity, were used to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purpose by comparing with the WHO and Iraqi standards. Total dissolved solid (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium bicarbonate, permeability index and magnesium ratio were used for irrigation suitability assessment. For this purpose, 98 samples were collected from the scattered shallow wells in the study area. Results indicated that the spatial distribution of TDS, EC values and major ions in these groundwater samples considerably differ from one site to another mainly due to the lithological variations of the area. The results are correlated with standards classifications to deduce the hydrogeochemical phenomena. The dominant factors in controlling the groundwater hydrogeochemistry are evaporation and weathering in the study area. Geochemical modelling approach was used to calculate the saturation state of some selected minerals, i.e., explaining the dissolution and precipitation reactions occurring in the groundwater. The studied groundwater samples were found to be oversaturated with carbonate minerals and undersaturated with evaporates minerals. A comparison of groundwater quality in relation to drinking water standards showed that most of the groundwater samples were unsuitable for drinking purposes. On the other hand, most groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation purposes based on sodium and salinity hazards. However, soil type as well as proper selection of plants should be taken into consideration.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of Shatt Al-Arab River (SAR) and investigate the influences on the variations of heavy metals levels. The surface water and bed sediments samples at four stations have been collected (4 months) during 2017-2018, and seven heavy metals (Ni 2+ , Cr 3+ , Pb 2+ , As 3+ , Hg 2+ , U 4+ and Cd 2+), as well as 11 parameters including total dissolved solids, the concentration of hydrogen ions, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, chlorides, turbidity, total hardness, electrical conductivity and alkalinity were investigated. The results indicated that the water quality in the SAR depend on the combined effects of natural and anthropogenic factors. The variation of water quality of SAR influenced by the chemical ions inflow from the Tigris River and the marine salt from Arabian Gulf. The highest value of TDS was in S4 it reached to 42,844 mg/l. The results showed that most of the ions increase their concentration by more than 200%, especially in summer season at Fao area due to the effect of the seawater intrusions. In comparison to the sediments, low concentrations and a uniform distribution of most metals were observed in the river water. The river sediments were polluted with heavy metals, while pollution levels in the water were still within permissible limits for drinking, irrigation and aquatic life. These findings indicated that the major sources of river contamination with heavy metals were the atmospheric deposit of gaseous emissions from oil production and electric generators and the surface runoff from agricultural areas after rainfall. Additionally, the tide greatly controls the distribution heavy metals in the river.

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