ater samples were collected monthly from December 2007 - May 2009 from four sites on Tigris River in Baghdad, (Al-Etafiah, Al-Tahrer Bridge, Al-Jadiriah Bridge and Al-Wihdeh square near water treatment station). Three months average was taken. Hydrogen activity (pH) range was (7.3-7.5), Electrical Conductivity (EC) range was (0.80- 0.94) dS/m, with significant difference in relation to sites. Rang of Calcium ions concentration was (3.8- 4.2) mmolс/l, Magnesium ions (2.0- 2.7) mmolс/l, Sodium ions (2.1- 3.0) mmolс/l, Potassium ions (0.1) mmolс/l, Chloride ions (2.0- 3.3) mmolс/l, Sulfate ions (4.1- 5.0) mmolс/l, and Carbonate ions (1.3- 1.9) mmolс/l. Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) ranged from (512.0- 601.6) ppm, with significant difference in regard to sites. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) ranged from (1.15- 1.91) along all the River sites and through the months of the study. Tigris River can be considered adequate for civilian uses according to WHO and Iraqi Quality Assurance System after adequate treatment in filtration and sterilization stations. Three classification systems were used to evaluate water suitability for agricultural purposes, United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Classification System (1954), and the result was class C3-S1 for all studied samples. FAO Classification System (1985), the result was “Water with mild-moderate problems” for salt concentration represented by EC. But for SAR and effect of Na concentration on soil permeability, the result was “No problem to use water for irrigation”. FAO Classification System (1992), its result was “Low salt irrigation water”, No sample was classified as “Danger possibilities” in regard to SAR and its effect on soil permeability. According to an Iraqi Classification System, these samples were classified as “good quality water for agricultural irrigation purposes”.

The distribution of heavy metals in surface sediment in the four sites of Thi Qar governorate and one site in the eastern part of Basrah governorate were investigated in order to detect the environmental characteristics in these areas. The texture of sandysilt, silt and sandymud are dominant in the study area. The distribution of heavy metals follows the pattern Fe> Ti> Mn > V >Cr > Zn> Pb >Ni >Cu > Co> As. The heavy metals content was reduced in the sandy sediments and low TOC. The heavy metals had a positive correlation with the silt fraction in the sediments of the study area. Sediments alkalinity found with a positive relationship with TOC content. The values of Fe, Zn, Pb, V, and Co were lower than their content in the world wild sedimentary rocks, while Ti, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, and As were higher than their content in the world wide sedimentary rocks. The spatial distribution of heavy metals is higher in the Majnoon oil field compared with the other areas. An approach utilizes various contamination indices (Enrichment Factor EF, Geoaccumulation index Igeo, Contamination Factor CF, and Ecological risks Er) were used to evaluate a contamination degree. The values of the contamination indices showed no/low sediment contamination with Co, Zn, Pb, Cu, V, Fe, and Mn in the Chibayish, Nasiriyah city center, and Tal Abu Dahab. Moderate contamination with Ti and Cr in the Suq Al-Shuyukh, Majnoon oil field and Chibayish, while considerable contamination with Ni and As in the Majnoon oil field. The results of Er showed low heavy metals ecological risks.