Study of Surface Water Quality and Trends Assessment at Shatt Al-Arab River in Basrah Province

Abstract

In this paper, the monitoring of surface water quality for the Shatt Al Arab River between 2011 and 2014 have been done by using the physico-chemical parameters. These parameters are sulphate (SO4), phosphate (PO4), nitrate (NO3), magnesium (Mg), dissolved oxygen (DO), chloride (Cl), and calcium (Ca). Five sampling stations were selected to monitor these parameters along the Shatt Al Arab River. Mann-Kendall Seasonal Test for the water quality assessment was done to detect the different levels of pollution and trend is made use of in the area under investigation. The results have revealed parameter variation over time due to, at most, the increasing pollution levels at the monitoring stations along the Shatt Al Arab River during the 2011-2014 period. The current research submits the use and utility of trend statistical assessment of large and complicated database in order to get more useful information on the quality of surface water, sampling design and analytical protocols, the efficient control of pollution, and the good management of the surface water.