Using Heavy Metals Pollution Index (HPI) and Metal Index (MI) for Assessing quality of drinking water in Bardarash-Akre basin in Duhok governorate northern Iraq

Abstract

A total of forty-four groundwater samples were collected from several groundwater wells located at diverse depths and locations throughout the Kre-Bardarash basin in the Duhok governorate. The sample program began in May 2023 and includes the examination of several heavy elements, including but not limited to (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Va, Ni, Zn, Bo, Cr, Co, Li, Mn, Se, and Ag)The essential goals  of this research are to find that the samples have concentrations within the acceptable limits as prescribed in Iraqi drinking water standards. The average Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) concentration is 955, which is considerably less than the crucial index value of 100. The percentage of groundwater samples that exceeds the 100-index value is 5%, indicating that the water is completely unsuitable unfit for drinking, while 90 percent are rang from excellent to very poor quality according to HPI. The MI concentration was 0.16 with 88.6 % percent of groundwater samples were found to be very pure water class. The results show that the groundwater in the Akre-Bardarash basin of wells 1,2, and 3 is highly polluted in the northeast part, and wells 22 and 30 are also highly polluted in the south-east part. All of the wells mentioned above are unfit for human consumption. The impact of human activity and industrial activity on the study area has played an important role in the pollution of groundwater quality in the northeast and southwestern parts of the Akre-Bardarash Basin. According to the findings of the current study, it can be concluded that the water can be used safely for drinking without any negative effect on human health, except wells 1,2, and 3 in the northeast part and wells 22 and 30 in the southwest part.