Temporary Assessment of the Quality of Tigris River Water During the Wet Season in Central Iraq Using the CCME WQI and Irrigation Indices

Iraq experienced varying climate changes from 2022-2023, with a rise in summer temperatures, moderate winter temperatures, and a decrease in rainfall compared to the previous years. Therefore, this study focused on assessing the water quality of the Tigris River in selected districts during the wet season for drinking and irrigation purposes. Monthly samples from the Tigris River were collected (December, January and February 2022-2023) and 13 physiochemical parameters were thoroughly examined. A few physiochemical parameters in the Tigris water exceeded the World Health Organization's (WHO) permissible levels in the samples, which were in December, 9.05 and 10.7mg/ L for turbidity (Tur) in Shirqat and Alam, and 349mg/ L for sodium (Na) in Alam. In January, the value of 252 and 256mg/L were recorded for total hardness (TH) in Hawija and Alam. In February, a value of was recorded 11.1 for Tur in Alam, while 136, 146, and 140 mg/L were recorded for total alkaline (Alk) in Shirqat, Hawija, and Alam. The Canadian Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) rated the Tigris River water as Good, indicating acceptable water quality for human use. Likewise, the study assessed the suitability of Tigris water for crop irrigation using various irrigation indices, revealing that it was suitable for soil and crops in the studied areas during the wet period.