An Ecological Assessment for Water Quality of Some Water Bodies in Koysenjaq-Erbil, Iraq.

Abstract

Water `assessment and algal composition study was conducted near Koysenjaq district for nine sites including (4) springs and (5) streams. Monthly water samples collected from April-2013 to March-2014 and 15 physico-chemicals parameters and algal content were analyzed. Generally, pH of water tend to be in alkaline side of neutrality. Mean values of electrical conductivity ranged between 272-441μs.cm -1 in January and July respectively. Total hardness extended from hard to very hard water. Cation arranged in order as follows: Ca> Mg>Na>K. Higher mean value of ammonium recorded in site 6 was 14.8 μg N.NH3.l -1 , and minimum value of nitrite was 0.68μg N.NO2.l -1 in site 6. Mean values of phosphate ranged between (0.82-4.5μg P-PO4.l -1 ). Highest value of dissolved oxygen were observed in sites 7, 8 and 9, while the minimum value of biochemical oxygen demand recorded in site 2 was 0.7mg.l -1 . A total 73 species of algal species were identified of which belong to Bacillariophyceae (25 species), Cyanophyceae (23 species), Chlorophyceae (16 species), Euglenophyceae (4 species), Charophyceae and Xanthophyceae (2 species for each one) and 1 species belong to Rhodophyceae. Multivariate statistical techniques results revealed that water quality of the monitored water bodies were influenced by many pollution sources including the geological formation of the area, agricultural activities and effluent of domestic sewage water. [DOI: 10.22401/JNUS.21.2.18] Keyword: Water quality, springs, streams, multivariate statistical analysis, Koysenjaq. Introduction Water is a very important Grace for the environment, the most important to maintain life and it is required in almost all humanitarian activities. Drinking, domestic use, agriculture, industries, energy production, navigation, and entertainment. The site of Iraq within the Middle East with an area of 433,970 K 2 , where the number of souls about 35 million people [1]. Many countries are concerned with the presence, uses, security and management of water sources. The evaluation of water quality has become an important issue, especially with an awareness that freshwater will be a rare resource in the future [2]. Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water, it is an assessment of water condition relative to the requirements of human need [3]. The term of water quality was developed to supply an indicator of how suitable the water is for different living consumption and is generally used in various scientific works related to the necessities of sustainable management [4]. However, water quality in many rivers around the world has deteriorated significantly may be due to human activities in the past three decades [5]. River regarded as an important source of inland water resources for human. In the past, social, economic and political development has been linked to the extent to which freshwater is available and distributed in river systems [6 and7]. The climate change in recent years has an important effect on the water quality of rivers of the world in terms of changing patterns of rainfall and increased evaporation rates as a result of high temperature, especially rivers located in arid and semi-arid zones [8 and 9]. Multivariate statistical methods are useful tools for assessment environmental status, identified sources of water pollution, provide valuable ways for water resources management and introduce solutions for pollution control [10, 11, and 12]. Factor analysis (FA) and Cluster analysis (CA) are more widely used statistical analysis for environmental topics in recent years [13, 14], through drawing out meaningful conclusions from data obtained in analysis of water quality. For further increasing our knowledge, this investigation was conducted in order to evaluate water quality and algae identification in the area which may be regard as the first