Temporal Geochemical Changes and Evaluation the Suitability of Groundwater in Badra District in Eastern of Wasit Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

Groundwater is essential for its different uses, especially when surface water is scarce or absent. The scarcity of surface water in various locations in eastern Iraq is a significant concern for life and the future. The temporal chemical changes of 20 groundwater samples collected from groundwater wells in Badra District, eastern Iraq were evaluated. The results revealed the mean values of cations; Ca2+ (215 ppm), Mg2+ (100.7 ppm), Na+ (256.5 ppm), and K+ (3.5 ppm), and anions such as SO42- (956.7 ppm), Cl- (342 ppm), and HCO3- (48.13 ppm), PO43- (3 ppm) and NO3- (21.5 ppm). The total dissolved solids (2128 ppm), electrical conductivity (3084µs\cm), pH (7.43), and temperature (20.18 °C) of the samples were obtained. The results compared with other studies conducted in 2005 and 2009. Despite a relative increase in the sulfate, TDS, chlorides, and sodium contents, the water quality has remained the same during the last ten years. In the recent study (2020), the same type of water quality characterized the water chemistry. At the same time; the increasing of SO42-, Cl-, NO3-, Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ during ten years ago were due to climatic changes toward the aridity. The observed temporal chemical changes of groundwater were be consoled climatic factors' alteration. The groundwater of the studied wells is unsuitable for human drinking. and it is suitable for livestock drinking and irrigation with a risk of total dissolved solids and sulfates.