Developing Spatial Models of Groundwater Quality in the Southwestern Desert of Iraq Using GIS, Inverse Distance Weighting, and Kriging Interpolation Techniques
Haider M. Hassan, Abaas J. Ismaeel, Saleem Ethaib, Basim M. Al-Zaidi
Abstract
Water scarcity is a prevalent issue in Iraq, and groundwater resources are critical for addressing this problem, particularly in the country's desert regions.This study aimed to assess groundwater quality and develop spatial models using geographic information systems (GIS), inverse distance weighting (IDW), and Kriging interpolation techniques in the southwestern desert of Iraq.Water samples were collected from 75 wells, spanning an area of 50,488 km² , and were analyzed during both the dry and wet seasons.The water quality characterization included measurements of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, and major cations and anions in the groundwater.Results indicated a high range of TDS values, corresponding to elevated EC levels, with pH values ranging from 7.1 to 8.3 across the study area, as revealed by the GIS models.It was found that the concentrations of major cations (Ca and Mg) and anions (HCO3, Cl, and SO4) exceeded the acceptable limits for drinking water set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Iraqi drinking water specifications, with noticeable variations in the distribution of these elements within the study area.Furthermore, seasonal fluctuations were observed to have a significant impact on the groundwater quality characteristics.In conclusion, a wide range of water quality characteristics was identified in the study area, and the developed spatial models can serve as valuable tools for selecting appropriate treatment methods to utilize groundwater as a drinking water source.