Evaluation of Groundwater Using The Water Quality Index (WQI) In Hawija Area, Kirkuk, Northern Iraq

Abstract

The water quality index (WQI) has been used to comprehend the Hawija region's groundwater quality for drinking purposes. Where Some locals solely utilize groundwater for drinking purposes. Forty groundwater samples were collected from the Hawija region's bore wells. The groundwater was somewhat hard and slightly alkaline. These materials were transported to (Acme Lab) to Canada for examination. In addition to comparing the findings of the current study with Iraqi requirements, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classification of water quality and its suitability for various uses, this paper also examines physical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, dissolved salts, and chemical properties, including estimating the water content of major ions. In the low-flow season, the WQI values varied from 29.96 to 112.5, whereas in the high-flow season, they ranged from (25.61 to 142.32). Out of 40 groundwater samples, 12 (30%) were deemed to have excellent water quality, 17 (42.5%) were deemed to have bad water quality, 10 (25%) were deemed to have extremely poor water quality, and 1 (2.5%) were deemed unfit for drinking during the low flow season. Groundwater samples taken during the high flow season had a water quality rating of 16 (40%) good, 14 (35%) bad, 7 (17.5%) extremely poor, and 3 (7.5%) unfit for drinking. This suggests that much of the research area's groundwater samples are unsuitable for human consumption.