The Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water from Baquba Water Treatment Plant

Abstract

This study was achieved for the purpose of determining concentrations of inorganic heavy metals for Baquba drinking water by taking samples from the water treatment plant during the period (February 2011) to (February 2012), and these tests included heavy metals concentrations: iron, copper, lead, nickel, and cadmium. Then, the results were compared with the standard of World Health Organization to determine the expected increase in concentrations of these elements, accompanied with the side effects on human health.According to this study, it was reached to the fact that the station drinking water concentrations are accepted with iron, copper and lead but with high cadmium concentrations more than recommended international standards with respect to most samples. Also, these tests represented the presence of discrepancy in nickel concentrations along the tested period above and below the permissible limit.According to the researcher; this is caused by the disposed of sewage waste water in the course of river in some districts of the province without any treatments and also by the excessive using of fertilizers in the agricultural fields near the banks of the river.It is unfortunate that the station has low efficiency in minerals treatment due to the lack of modern techniques.