Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Water Quality in the Shatt AlShatrah Channel, Dhi Qar Governorate, Southern Iraq, and Its Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations in the water quality of the Shatt AlShatrah Channel, located in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq, within the framework of sustainable water resource management. The main problem addressed is the deterioration of water quality caused by agricultural runoff and domestic wastewater discharge, which threatens its suitability for different uses. Five sampling stations were selected along the river course, and analyses were conducted during the summer and winter seasons of 2022.

The principal physical and chemical parameters were measured: temperature ranged from 22.4 to 31.7°C, pH from 7.1 to 8.2, dissolved oxygen (DO) from 3.4 to 6.8 mg/L, total hardness (TH) from 320 to 780 mg/L, electrical conductivity (EC) from 1.8 to 3.6 mS/cm, and total dissolved solids (TDS) from 1200 to 2500 mg/L. The results indicated an increase in salinity and hardness downstream, with lower DO values near pollution sources, reflecting moderate environmental degradation.

When compared with Iraqi and international water quality standards, the water was found to be partially suitable for irrigation and unsuitable for drinking without treatment. These findings contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) by promoting the availability and sustainable management of clean water through identifying pollution zones and supporting future environmental protection strategies.