DETERMINATION OF BACTERIAL POLLUTION LEVEL IN EUPHRATES RIVER WITHIN AL-ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ

The biological properties of water are important in determining the suitability of water for various uses on the hand in addition to knowing the level of environmental pollution of this water on the other hand. This study aims to reveal the level of pollution occurring in the waters of the Euphrates River through these characteristics, and to identify the sources of this pollution. During the period from April 2022 to March 2023, the water quality of the Euphrates River was examined between Al-Qaim and Ramadi cities. The examined parameters include dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Fecal Coliform (FC), Total coliform Bactria (TC), Total plate count (TPC). The obtained values of such parameters were compared with the standard values of the World Health Organization (WHO). While most of the measurements were within the allowable range such as DO and BOD values in Hit and Ramadi cities which reached 8.31±0.41 mg/l, and 4.41±0.93 mg/l respectively, some values exceeded the limits of WHO regulations such as FC and TC values in Al-Qaim district which reached to 82.39±30.35 cell/100ml and 203.94±77.74 cell/100ml respectively. However, the correlation coefficient between the involved parameters was examined related to location and time. In conclusion, river pollution levels varied from one region to another area through the under-study parameters, as river water is generally suitable for irrigation but not for drinking without pretreatment processes.


Keywords: Euphrates River, coliform, Fecal Coliform.