Evaluation of the Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater and its Suitability for Desalination to Product Potable Water in Tolul Al-Baj, Salahaldin, Iraq

Abstract

The study area, Tlul Al-Baj, suffers from a shortage of fresh water and most people depend on groundwater for different uses (drinking, domestic, irrigation, etc.).

The present research aims to select the most suitable wells for desalination and production of potable water in Tlul Al-Baj area.

Twenty-two samples of groundwater were collected to evaluate the hydrochemical properties of groundwater in the shallow aquifer in the area and to determine their suitability for desalination purposes. The study included measuring the physicochemical characteristics of groundwater, such as total hardness (TH), total dissolved solids(TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium ratio (Na%), turbidity (Tur), pH…etc. Chemical analyses for the main components of water samples were also conducted, including cations such as sodium (Na⁺⁾, potassium (K⁺⁾, calcium (Ca⁺⁺⁾, and magnesium (Mg⁺⁺⁾, as well as anions such as chloride (Cl)^-, sulfate (SO₄⁼), bicarbonates (HCO₃^-), and nitrate (NO₃^-). In addition, concentrations of trace elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni),cobalt (CO), chromium(Cr) and cadmium (Cd) were determined.

The results of the physical and chemical analyses for the groundwater of the study area were compared with the international and local standards to determine their suitability for drinking uses and  to select the most suitable wells for the production of drinking water by desalination. The results indicated that the most suitable wells for desalination were wells numbered 4, 8, 9, 17, and 19.