Sustainable Water Resources Management and Groundwater Quality Assessment: Case of Karbala, Iraq

Abstract

Barren lands can be converted into agricultural land through a multidisciplinary approach to water management. This study evaluates the groundwater quality for irrigation in the unculti-vated Faddak land (277 km²) north of Kerbela City, Iraq. Thirty groundwater samples were collected from regional wells and analyzed using GIS, testing, and international standards from the FAO and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). A range of phys-icochemical parameters were tested, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and others. The results showed that most pollutants exceeded permissible limits, with an Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) of 36.28, indicating that the groundwater was unsuitable for irrigation. It is concluded that the water de-mands of native plants can be met through a combination of rainfall and surface water from the Euphrates River, with a maximum release of 20 m³/s required for cotton cultivation in July if 50% of the area is planted.