Assessment of hydrochemical evolution of groundwater and its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in Al-Khazir Gomal Basin, Northern Iraq

Abstract

This study evaluates the groundwater suitability for drinking and agricultural purposes and assesses the hydrochemical evolution in Al-Khazir Gomal Basin, north of Iraq. Sixty groundwater samples and 10 river water samples were collected in the dry season (October) and wet season (April). The samples were analyzed to determine major and some minor ions, trace elements, and physicochemical properties. All surface and groundwater samples are considered as fresh water (TDS \ 794 mg/L) and slightly vary in chemical composition. The abundance of the major ions is as follows:Interpretation of analytical data showed predominance, the water type of Ca-HCO 3 and Ca-Mg-HCO 3 indicated young and renewable groundwater. Total dissolved solid, total hardness, major ions, and trace elements are all within permissible limits of the potable and domestic purposes according to the European and WHO standards. The parameters of irrigation suitability showed that all of the samples are fit for irrigation purpose. Moreover, cluster and factor analyses were applied to the large data set (70 samples and 25 variables) to unravel the hidden relationships between the parameters, and to reveal the main factors affecting the water quality. The samples collected from the same well during the wet and dry season were clustered together indicating that the seasonal variability is negligible. Factor analysis showed that the rainfall leaching processes (recharge), carbonate minerals dissolution, aluminosilicate weathering, and ionic exchange are the dominant factors involved in controlling the groundwater chemical composition.

Health Risk Assessment on Heavy Metals Ingestion through Groundwater Drinking Pathway for Residents in an Oil and Gas Producing Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

“…Some of the recent water quality studies include: an assessment of trace elements in surface and ground water quality in the Ebocha-Obrikom oil and gas producing area of Rivers State, Nigeria by Raimi and Sabinus (2017) [1]; Morufu and Clinton, (2017) [2], water-related problems and health conditions in the oil producing communities in central senatorial district of Bayelsa State by Raimi et al (2017) [3], water quality on intermittent water supply by Erickson et al (2017) [4], major ion chemistry of the groundwater by Bikundia and Mohan (2014) [5], water quality due to temperature variation and water stagnation by Zlatanoviae et al (2017) [6], the use of fluorescence spectroscopy for tap water quality assessment by Heibati et al (2017) [7], Hydrochemical evolution and quality of groundwater by Jassas and Merkel (2015) [8], and evaluation of hydrogeology and groundwater quality by Edet (2016) [9]. Water quality was also studied in different areas of the world by Dhamodharan et al (2016) [10], Li et al (2016) [11], Nagaraju et al (2016) [12], Kumar et al (2017) [13], and Tiwari et al (2017) [14].…”

Hydrochemical characteristics and irrigation suitability of surface water in the Syr Darya River, Kazakhstan

“…As a basic industry for national life, agriculture uses huge amounts of water resources. A large amount of salt enters farmland with irrigation water, causing crop yield reduction and soil salinization to be intensified (Bahar and Reza 2010; Ravikumar et al 2011; Jassas and Merkel 2015). Farmland as a large proportion of landscape types, their quality changes also have a great impact on the overall landscape changes.…”

Hydrogeology and groundwater evaluation of a shallow coastal aquifer, southern Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria)

“…Thus, these groundwater samples can be used to irrigate tolerant and semi-tolerant crops and most crops on most soils and moderate salt tolerant soil. However, salinity hazard is ruled out due to high infiltration capacity of the soil, which consist of silt, sand and gravelly sand (Jassas and Merkel 2015).…”