Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Suitability for Irrigation Purpose in Northern Babil Governorate

Groundwater is considered a vital source for agriculture, especially in areas that suffer from a shortage of surface water resources. Accordingly, this study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of some polluting elements and some chemical properties of well water north of Babylon city to show its suitability for irrigation purposes. The (pH, EC, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, carbonates, bicarbonates, sulfates, nitrates, and boron) and some heavy elements (cadmium, lead, copper, and nickel) were estimated over four time periods (July 2023, October 2023, January 2024, April 2024) and for the regions (Latifiya, Al-Musayyab, Haswa, and Alexandria). The results showed that the electrical conductivity of well water falls within the category that causes a severe salinity problem, according to Ayera and Westcot, and the pH of the water was within the normal range, tending toward light alkalinity. The sodium values fell within the category that causes a severe problem, and that the chloride concentrations were high and within the category of water that causes a severe problem according to the classification of Marsh. The concentration of boron was low to moderate for sensitive crops. Regarding the nitrate content, well water is classified as no problem. The concentrations of all heavy metals were within the permissible limits, except for cadmium, which exceeded the permissible limits according to the global specifications of the World Health Organization.