Water Quality Parameters Evaluation of Sipna Stream, Duhok area, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

Due to the security situation surrounding the Sipna area, there has been a rapid migration of the population to the Sipna area over the past fifteen years, which has increased agricultural activities as well as some small and medium factories. This has necessitated the evaluation of the water quality and its appropriateness for various uses in the Sipna area. The Sipna stream, which is part of the Greater Zab River, is located in the Sheladize area, 60 km to the northeast of Duhok City in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Between the low-flow season (12-October/2021) and the high-flow season (18-April/2022), forty surface water samples were taken by polyethylene bottle from both seasons. The study aims to assess the quality of surface water and the extent of the impact of human activities on the Sipna stream and the possibility of using it as a database for comparison in the future. The findings indicate that Ca-bicarbonate and TDS values range from 219-606 ppm with an average of 321 ppm for the dry season and 188-685 ppm with an average of 251 ppm for the wet season, it is the dominant water type in the study area. According to to mean values, the main ion concentrations for cations were Ca²⁺> Mg²⁺> Na⁺> K⁺, and HCO₃^-> SO₄^2-> Cl^-> NO₃^- anions. The most prevalent hydrochemical natural processes are rock weathering and its mainly responsible for the water quality in the study area. Water indices and comparisons to the WHO standard revealed that the Sipna stream's quality is suitable for use as drinking water and a wide range of other purposes.