The Variation of Water Parameters along the Bandawaya Valley, Northern Iraq

Abstract

Wadi Bandawaya, which is 40 km north of Mosul in Iraq, pierces Mount Dahqan and creates a small valley that is ideal for the construction of a dam for harvesting rainwater. Water quality is evaluated for domestic and agricultural uses using chemical analyses of the main cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), anions (HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-, NO3-), as well as measurements of the acidity function (pH), electrical conductivity (Ec), concentration of total dissolved salts (TDS), and total hardness (TH). The valley water is considered to be within the limits permitted for drinking by the World Health Organization. If held inside the water harvesting project of the Bandawaya dam, the water of Bandawaya Valley is freshwater, suitable for drinking and domestic applications, according to the water quality index (WQI). It is also suitable for irrigation of agricultural lands adjacent to the valley in accordance with standards of the percentage of sodium (SSP), the rate of sodium adsorption (Sodium Adsorption Ratio, SAR), the quantity of residual sodium carbonate (Residual Sodium Bicarbonate, RSBC), and the percentage of magnesium (MAR). When there is little rain, the harvested water will be used for irrigation, as well as for supplemental irrigation techniques.