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

Abstract

The water quality index (WQI) is used to comprehend the Hawija region's groundwater quality for drinking purposes, where some people solely utilize the groundwater for drinking purposes. Forty groundwater samples are collected from Hawija region's wells. The groundwater is somewhat hard and slightly alkaline. The collectrd water samples are sent to (Acme Lab.Canada) for analysis. The results then are compred with the Iraqi standards, the World Health Organisation (WHO) standdards and with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classification of water quality in order to decide the water suitability for various uses. This paper also examines the 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 vary from 29.96 to 112.5, whereas in the high-flow season, they range from 25.61 to 142.32. Out of 40 groundwater samples, 12 (30%) are deemed to have excellent water quality, 17 (42.5%) are deemed to have bad water quality, 10 (25%) are deemed to have extremely poor water quality, and 1 (2.5%) are 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.