ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY USING WATER QUALITY INDEXIN, AL-HAWIJA AREA, NORTHERN IRAQ

Salih Muhammad Awadh; Joudah Aefan Al-Kilabi; Firas Mudhafar Abdulhussein

Salih Muhammad Awadh Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Joudah Aefan Al-Kilabi General Commission for Groundwater
Firas Mudhafar Abdulhussein Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Iraq

Keywords: WQI, Al-Hawija, Human consumption, Water quality

Abstract

The quality of groundwater in the Al-Hawija area was assessed using a water quality index. Data of nine physico-chemical parameters of 28 groundwater wells were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI). A heterogeneous water quality was reported, where in close proximity to the Lesser Zab River (LZR), it has low WQI values and permissible for human consumptions due to the dilution processes by fresh water; whereas, it becomes deteriorated in areas located far away the river. The values of WQI ranges from 22 to 336, indicating a good to very poor groundwater quality.