Assessment of the Efficiency of Filtration Stations on the Quality of Euphrates River Water in Ramadi City

Surface water bodies are vital sources of water for human consumption, domestic use, agriculture, industrial activities, and the sustenance of aquatic life and ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological, physical, and chemical quality of the Euphrates River water in Ramadi City. Water samples were collected from seven different sites along the Euphrates River between November 2022 and March 2023. Both physicochemical parameters and biological tests were conducted. The recorded ranges for selected physicochemical parameters were as follows: pH (3.3–12.5), temperature (16.4–19.73°C), turbidity (0.62–29.1 NTU), and electrical conductivity (539.6–3871.3 µS/cm). Some of these values exceeded the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Concentrations of various chemical constituents were within permissible WHO limits: calcium (Ca²⁺) ranged from 0.066 to 0.094 mg/L, magnesium (Mg²⁺) from 0.028 to 0.418mg/ L, sodium (Na⁺) from 32.87 to 97.00mg/ L, potassium (K⁺) from 1.903 to 3.867mg/ L, chloride (Cl⁻) from 0.061 to 0.091mg/ L, sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from 122.40 to 200.33mg/ L, and alum from 0.1063 to 0.2707mg/ L. Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria, including rods and Bacillus species, were isolated from Site 1 (S1), while Staphylococcus epidermidis (cocci) was identified at Site 9 (S9). In contrast, various Gram-negative bacteria—such as Klebsiella, E. coli, Pseudomonas, coccobacilli, and sticky colony-forming Bacilli—were isolated from Sites 2 through 8, in varying proportions. The findings indicate that the river water in the study area is moderately polluted and poses notable public health risks due to the presence of fecal contamination and emerging pathogenic bacteria.