Multivariate statistical-based surface water quality assessment of the Tigris and Diyala Rivers at their confluence in Baghdad
Abstract
Recently, the Tigris and Diyala rivers have deteriorated due to the discharge of inadequately treated wastewater into the river, an increase in water demand, and climate change. This makes Iraq suffer from providing water for different uses. In this paper, an attempt has been made to apply multivariate statistical methods, factor analysis (FA), to identify the primary factors and pollution sources affecting the water quality at the confluence of the Tigris and Diyala Rivers. The water quality of 16 parameters was considered in 35 sampling stations during two different periods. The water quality parameters are Turbidity, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, pH, Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solids, Sulfate, Carbonate, Bicarbonate, Iron, Chromium, Nitrate. The results of factor analysis specified three factors representing 80.810% of the total variance in each water quality dataset for the first period, whereas, for the second period, 2 factors were identified representing 77.402% of the total variance in each water quality dataset. The main differences are related to anthropogenic activities, in addition to some agricultural activities and hydrochemical effects in the study area. Multivariate statistical methods such as factor analysis can be used to understand the complex water quality data and identifying the source of pollution, in addition to provide a better explanation of the relationship between the large numbers of variables in surface water. FA can determine priorities to improve water quality and is believed to aid decision-makers in assessing water quality.
References
Abbas, N., Wasimi, S. A., & Al-Ansari, N. ,2016, Impacts of climate change on water resources in Diyala River Basin, Iraq. J Civ Eng Archit, 10, 1059-1074.
Abed, B. S., Daham, M. H. & Ismail, A. H. ,2021, Water quality modelling and management of Diyala river and its impact on Tigris River. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 16.1, 122-135.
Al-Rubaie, F., & Al-Musawi, N. ,2019, The Effect of Diyala River Water Quality on the Quality of Tigris River Water using GIS Mapping. Journal of Engineering, 25(10), 71-87.
APHA AWWA WEF, 1998, Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 20th Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington.
Bascaron M. ,1979, Establishment of a methodology for the determination of water quality. Bol Inf Medio Ambient 9:30–51. CIMA, MOPU, Madrid.
Boyacioglu H. & Boyacioglu H. ,2007, Surface water quality assessment by environmetric methods, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 131, 371–376.
Chapagain S. K., Pandey V. P., Shrestha S., Nakamura T. & Kazama F. (2010). Assessment of Deep Groundwater Quality in Kathmandu Valley Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 210, 277–288
Ghalib, H. B. , 2017, Groundwater chemistry evaluation for drinking and irrigation utilities in east Wasit province, Central Iraq. Applied Water Science, 7(7), 3447-3467.
Ismail, A. H., & Abed, G. A. (2013). BOD and DO modeling for Tigris River at Baghdad city portion using QUAL2K model. Journal of Kerbala University (Scientific), 3, 257 -273.
Ismail, A. H., Abed, B. S., & Abdul-Qader, S. ,2014, Application of Multivariate Statistical Techniques in the surface water quality Assessment of Tigris River at Baghdad stretch. Journal of Babylon University, 22, 450-462.
Ismail, A. H., & Muntasir, A. H. ,2018, Estimation of river Tigris dispersivities using a steady‑state numerical model. Appl Water Sci, 8-108.
Ismail A.H, Robescu D. ,2019, Application of multivariate statistical techniques in water quality assessment of Danube river, Romania. Environ Eng Manag J 18(3):719-726.
Ismail, A.H, Shareef, M.A, Hussein, H.H, Salman, H.H, Salim, A.H, Matar, A.G, 2022, Two-dimensional simulation of pollutant dispersion at the confluence of Diyala river with Tigris river using CFD technique, Journal of Water Resources and Geosciences, 1 (2), pp 85 - 100.
Ismail, A. H., Shareef, M. A., & Alatar, F. M. ,2019, Hydrochemistry of Groundwater and its Suitability for Drinking and Irrigation in Baghdad, Iraq. Environ Process, 6, 543-560.
Ismail, A. H., Hassan, G., & Sarhan, A. H. ,2020, Hydrochemistry of shallow groundwater and its assessment for drinking and irrigation purposes in Tarmiah district, Baghdad governorate, Iraq. Groundw Sustain Dev, 10-100300, from https://doi.org/10.1016/j. gsd.2019.100300.
Ismail, A., Shareef, M., Hussein, H., Salman, H, Kadhim, N., Salim, A., & Matar, A. ,2022, Two-dimensional simulation of pollutant dispersion at the confluence of Diyala river with Tigris river using CFD technique. Journal of Water Resources and Geosciences, 1(2), 85–100.
Sabeeh, K.G, Mustafa, M.T, Ismail, A.H, Boncescu, C, ,2023, Evaluation of Water Quality at the Confluence Region of Diyala and Tigris Rivers Based on the Weighted Arithmetic Method, Journal of Techniques, 5 (1), pp 58 – 65
Simeonov V., Simeonova P. & Tsitouridou R. ,2004)., Chemometric quality assessment of surface water: Two case studies, Chemical Engineering Ecology, 11, 449–469.
Singh K.P., Malik A., Mohan D., Sinha S. ,2004)., Multivariate statistical techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in water quality of Gomti River (India): A case study. Water Research, 38, 3980–3992.
Wunderlin D. A., Díaz M. P., Amé M. V., Pesce S. F., Hued A. C. & Bistoni M. A., 2001, Pattern recognition techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in water quality. A case study: Suquía River Basin (Córdoba-Argentina), Water Research, 35, 2881–2894.
Yürekli, K., Erdoğan, M., Ismail, A. H, Shareef, M. A. ,2021, How far can hydrochemical characteristics of surface water meet drinking and irrigation criteria: a pragmatic study for the Euphrates river basin, Turkey, Sustainable Water Resources Management, 7:25.
