Hydrogeochemistry of Selected Wells on Both Banks of the Tigris River in Mosul Area/ Northern Iraq

Abstract

The present study included the evaluation of ground water at two areas; Gobba on the left and Hawi Al-Kaneesa on the right bank of the Tigris River at city of Mosul. Water evaluation was carried out through the comparison of the analytical dataofwater samples collected from wells at the two areas and the determination of their suitability for irrigation, as the two areas are within the utilized agricultural areas in Mosul governorate. Chemical analysis for the major cations (Ca+2, Mg+2,Na+1, K+1) and the anions (HCO3-1, Cl-1,SO4-2) were carried out. Also, some physical and chemical properties related to water specification, like hydrogen ion Concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH) and total dissolved salts (TDS) were determined. For the purpose of evaluation of water quality for irrigation, some water classifications were carried out. Results have shown that most of Hawi AL- Kaneesa well water were relatively rich in the determined cations and anions. This is attributed to the relatively high solubility of Fatha formation evaporates. These well- waters are considered to be a mixture of recent deposits and Fatha formation ground waters. Also, rain waters rinse and dissolved the outcrops of this formation in this area. There is also the effect of the sulphur springs present at or near the study area like Ain–Kibrit (sulphur spring) and other springs along the fault of Hawi AL-Kaneesa that result in increasing (SO4-2) as significantly observed.