Evaluation of Water Quality Index in the Main Drain River in Iraq by Application of CCME Water Quality

Abstract

Water Quality Index in the Main Drain River in Iraq by Application the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index(CCME WQI) has been achieved .Fifteen water quality parameters (pH, alkalinity, phosphate(PO₄) , nitrate(NO₃), sulfate(SO₄), chloride(Cl), total hardness(TH), calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg), total dissolved solids(TDS), biological oxygen demand(BOD), dissolved oxygen(DO), electrical conductivity(EC), sodium (Na) and potassium(K) measured at ten stations along the main drain river (Baghdad, Babylon, Qadiysiah, ThiQar and Al-Basrah). The field work was conducted during the years 2004 until 2011. Based on the results obtained from the index the water quality of main outfall drain river ranged between 26.6- 35.5 which indicate that river has the worst quality due to effect of various pollutant sources.

Keywords:Water quality index, Iraq, Main drain, CCME WQI