Investigating Groundwater Quality for Aquaculture and Agriculture in Chra, Duhok, Iraq: A Study of Heavy Metals and Radon

This study investigated the groundwater quality in the Chra district of Duhok, Iraq, an important agricultural area, focusing on heavy metals and radon concentrations. Standard laboratory techniques assessed water samples from ten primary well sources for physical and chemical parameters. The presence of heavy metals was determined using a Shimadzu AA-7000 atomic absorption spectroscopy device, while radon concentrations (²²²Rn) were measured with a RAD7 radon detector. Results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to assess compliance and safety. The calculation of the water quality index (WQI) took physicochemical parameters into account, including turbidity, pH, E.C, T.D.S, NO₃⁻, T. Al, TH, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄²⁻, and heavy metals such as Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr⁶⁺, and Al. The WQI values ranged from 20.54 to 36.22, indicating water quality from good to excellent. Most heavy metal concentrations were within the permissible limits, except Pb and Cd, which exhibited minor variations. ²²²Radon concentrations in the water samples ranged from 1.75 to 7.38Bq/ L, all below the USEPA-specified limit of 11.1Bq/ L, suggesting a minimal radiological health risk. The study concluded with recommendations for sustainable water resource management, emphasizing the necessity for continuous monitoring and management to maintain groundwater safety and sustainability.