On The Evaluation of Water Quality Index: Case Study of Euphrates River, Iraq

Abstract

This study is used the water quality index (WQI), which is generated by combining several water quality parameters. This index gives a helpful representation of overall water quality for the public and all intended applications, and it demonstrates that pollution is beneficial in water quality management and decision-making. The Euphrates River was assessed in order to determine the quality of drinking water. The Euphrates River was assessed for drinking water quality using the WQI, which includes ten physicochemical water quality criteria. This was achieved by submitting comprehensive physicochemical analysis of water samples collected from 5 stations in the city of Hit-Iraq during 2020-2021. The ten physicochemical parameters included: pH value, Nitrate (NO₃), Sulphate (SO_4­), Turbidity, temperature, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), electric conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). This was accomplished by submitting a full physicochemical analysis of water samples obtained from 5 sites in Hit, Iraq, between 2020 and 2021. The results of the present study show, the total average WQI was 110,156. The high WQI achieved is caused by the high TDS and magnesium concentration due to the different human activities along the river reach. The Euphrates River quality is classified as 'very poor quality' with a minimum WQI of 97.85 in June and 121.75 in November.