MATHEMATICAL COMPUTATION OF WATER QUALITY INDEX FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF AL-HILLA RIVER ECOSYSTEM

Al-Hilla River has a great importance to the people in the vicinity which serves as a main drinking and irrigation source. The aim of the current study is to estimate the Water Quality Index (WQI) of Al-Hilla River, southern Baghdad using the weighted arithmetic water quality index method. Water samples were collected from 7 stations in March in which eight water quality parameters were analyzed: Turbidity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, concentration of hydrogen ion, electrical conductivity, chlorides, alkalinity and biological oxygen demand. The calculated WQI of Al-Hilla River indicates that the river water is unsuitable for drinking which is majorly attributed to the total dissolved solids and turbidity. This interprets the condition of the river which can help the local authority in taking action by identifying the sources of pollution and improving the water quality and stakeholders should be involved in the decision making and mitigation alternatives