Qualitative Assessment of Pollution Indices for Heavy Metal of The Drinking Water in Kirkuk City, Northern Iraq

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determined and examined the qualitative  status of water, with respect to the methods of  heavy metal contamination indices for the drinking water quality of Kirkuk city. The 26 samples have collected in July 2015. The heavy metal concentrations were determined in the drinking water samples by using (ICP-MS) technique. Seven heavy metal concentrations including AS,Cr,Cu,Mn,Pb,Ni, and Zn which have been detected in drinking water, were measured in the selected samples of the Kirkuk city. Then by using quality indices based on heavy metals, Cd, HEI and MI, the impact on the quality of drinking water were measured and evaluated. The results show that the metal pollution of drinking water in the study area is frequently less than the threshold risk. The mean HEI (0.465) was found to be below the heavy metal pollution index value of 400. The result of the MI(0.863) elucidates that the drinking water is pure with regard to heavy metal pollution. The results show that the concentrations of 7 studied metals are little than national standards. Comparing the results of heavy metals concentration in this study with drinking water standards displays that the concentration of studied heavy metals are little than the estimated levels that were announced by the World Health Organization(WHO) and the National Standards Organization of Iraq(IQS).

Keywords: Heavy Metal, Drinking Water, Water Quality ,Kirkuk