Changes in the salinity of the Euphrates River system in Iraq

Rahi, Khayyun A.; Halihan, Todd

doi:10.1007/s10113-009-0083-y

Cited by 77 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The available data suggest a decline in water quality as the tributaries enter Iraq and in the Shatt Al-Arab. Total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations have increased downstream of the border of Syria-Iraq from 710 mg.L x1 in 1973 to 1100 mg.L x1 in 2002, whereas in the southern part of the country TDS increased from 1300 mg.L x1 in 1979 to 4500 mg.L x1 in 2001 (Rahi and Halihan, 2010). In the case of the Shatt Al-Arab, the mean TDS values of 1508 and 1691 mg.L x1 for 2006 and 2007, respectively, were reported at an upstream station (near station 4, Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Assessing changes in seawater intrusion and water quality of the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq

Hameed

Ali

Aljorany

et al. 2013

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Many adverse environmental factors influencing the Shatt-al Arab River, southern Iraq, during the past century and especially in recent years, combined with the ever-increasing demand for freshwater in the region, indicate the need to obtain information about its salinity regime. The aim of our study was both to find out what historical data there are and then to compare these with the results of a survey of the salinity and water quality of a stretch of the present river over the year October 2009-September 2010. The evidence suggests that there has been a marked upstream shift in the influence of sea water. Salinity values of 2 and 8‰ were found at two sites where elevated salinity had never been reported previously. Water quality variables indicated increased concentrations over the previous four decades and were beyond the national and international standards. As such changes in a major water resource have serious implications for the inhabitants of Basrah, the biological diversity in the river and the whole Gulf ecosystem, it is suggested that there should be a much more detailed study to provide the evidence needed to convince upstream water users of the need to conserve water and manage the whole catchment properly.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Assessing changes in seawater intrusion and water quality of the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq

Hameed

Ali

Aljorany

et al. 2013

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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“…Whereas return flows should increase water availability in Iraq, they nevertheless have a negative impact because the concomitant increase in salinity constrains their effective use. This can be clearly noted in the Euphrates, where water salinity has increased significantly at Hit in Iraq due to drainage water from saline irrigation fields (Rahi and Halihan 2010). To protect the irrigation projects located downstream, drainage water is diverted away from the riverbed of both Euphrates and Tigris rivers through the MOD.…”

Section: Impact Of Return Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shatt al Arab River system under escalating pressure: a preliminary exploration of the issues and options for mitigation

Abdullah

Masih

Zaag

et al. 2015

International Journal of River Basin Management

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This paper provides a broad description of the current state of hydrological and geographical characteristics of the Shatt al Arab River (SAR), and analyses the severe decline in water quantity and escalating levels of salinity. The analyses cover SAR as well as all contributing rivers and Mesopotamian Marshlands, which is essential to present a holistic picture of the issues. The analyses are based on the most recent data, though limited, on water availability, water resources development and management infrastructure, and water quality status. The study shows that the water inflows have significantly reduced and the water quality status has deteriorated to alarmingly high levels, especially from Basra to the river mouth. The crisis can only be averted through the cooperative water management initiatives taken by all the riparian countries, which require a paradigm shift from the current approach of unilateral water management planning to international cooperation and management on the shared water resources. The crisis mitigation strategies should find ways of increasing inflows and improving water quality from the upstream source rivers. At the same time, local measures are required to avoid drainage of poor-quality domestic and industrial effluents and highly saline water from the marshes into the SAR. These efforts should be supported by sound scientific information, which is also limited at the moment.

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“…The increase in population and expansion of economic activities undoubtedly leads to increasing demand of water use for various purposes. Water resources in Iraq, especially in the last two decades have also suffered of remarkable stress in terms of water quantity due to different reasons such as the dams built on Tigris and Euphrates in the riparian countries, the global climatic changes and the local severe decrease of the annual precipitation rates and improper planning of water uses inside Iraq [1][2][3]. Water quality is certainly affected by the quantity and quality of supplies coming from different sources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Water Quality Index for Assessment of Dokan Lake Ecosystem, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Al-Obaidy¹,

Abid²,

Maulood³

2010

JWARP

216

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Water Quality Index (WQI) was applied in Dokan Lake, Kurdistan region, Iraq using ten water quality parameters (pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Conductivity, Hardness, Alkalinity, Sodium, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrate and Nitrite). The relative weight assigned to each parameter ranged from 1 to 4 based on the importance of the parameter for aquatic life. The results indicated that water quality of Dokan Lake declined from Good in the years

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Changes in the salinity of the Euphrates River system in Iraq

Cited by 77 publications

References 8 publications

Assessing changes in seawater intrusion and water quality of the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq

Assessing changes in seawater intrusion and water quality of the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq

Shatt al Arab River system under escalating pressure: a preliminary exploration of the issues and options for mitigation

Application of Water Quality Index for Assessment of Dokan Lake Ecosystem, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

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