Abstract

QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF RAW AND DRINKING WATERS OF TIGRIS AND LOWER AL-ZAB RIVERS IN A SELECTED SECTOR OF KIRKUK AND SALAHALDEEN PROVINCES OF IRAQ

Mohemid Al-Jebouri*, Muhsen Hamad Edham

ABSTRACT

Background: The natural bodies of freshwaters like rivers, lakes and springs are always under pressure of biological, chemical and physical pollutions. Nowadays, it can be added that different types of wars which have an impact on the natural environment lead to changes of distribution of various types of fauna and flora. Methodology and Results: The different water samples from River Tigris and lower Al-Zab river were tested for microbiological indicators of pollution as well as for analysis of chemical and physical parameters like air and water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, pH and electrical conductivity. The highest degree of water pollution was seen during January of the year. Conclusions: The highest degree of water pollution was seen in winter and three new bacterial types were locally isolated i.e. Kluyvera cryocrescens, Pantoea agglomerans and Rahnella aquatilis.

Keywords: Tigris, Al-Zab, Bacterial indicators, Physicochemical parameters, Iraq.