Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purposes Using Water Quality Index, and Identifying the Affecting Mechanism in Rashdiya, Central Iraq

Groundwater is an important resource that can be used for various purposes. Various factors can change the chemistry of the GW, such as the chemical composition of an aquifer as well as the leaching of human waste into groundwater. The study area is a barren land covered by some sabkhas, in addition to some agricultural fields. The study aims to assess groundwater quality for drinking purposes using the Water Quality Index. The groundwater is chemically heterogeneous and has a wide quality range from very poor to excellent. Evaporation appears to be the controlling factor among the other shallow waters, while relatively deep water is related to rock-soil dominance. Rocks, land use and land cover have helped control the groundwater quality. Moreover, the heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation, in addition to the presence of sabkhas, contributed to the deterioration of the groundwater quality. The water-rock interaction and evaporation are the dominant mechanisms that are controlling the groundwater quality in the study area.