HYDROCHEMICAL ASSESMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF AL-RAZZAZAH LAKE AND SURROUNDINGS, KARBALA AREA, CENTRAL IRAQ

Abstract

Nine water samples from eight different resources were collected from the southern part of Al-Razzazah Lake and the adjacent area, which is located West of Karbala city. It has been found that the lake water is characterized by high content of T.D.S., while that near the shore has suffered dilution by the irrigation drainage water and the wells water is mixed with the domestic wastewater of Karbala city via Karbala northern drainage, which is much lower in T.D.S.. The samples R0, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are considered very hard but still can be used for irrigation but care should be taken to sensitive crops. R6 and R7 can be also used for irrigation but gypsum should be added to the soil, moreover this water can be used for non-sensitive crops. The lake water (R8) is not suitable for irrigation as it may cause severe damage to the soil and plants. Sand washing slightly contributes in increasing the Mg2+ concentration and alkalinity in the pumped well water used in washing the sand, which changes the water type from Na+ + Ca2+ to Na++ Mg2+ + Ca2+. The near shore water sample were found to be of very low concentration compared with those from the interior of the lake, indicating that the Northern Karbala Drainage water pumped to the lake and the spring water are slightly mixed with the lake water due to the difference in densities.