Assessment of Water Quality Index and Water Suitability of the Tigris River for drinking water within Baghdad City, Iraq

In this study water quality was indicated in terms of Water Quality Index that determined through summarizing multiple parameters test results. This index offers a useful representation the overall for public or any intended use as well indicating pollution, management and decision making. The application Index(WQI) with sixteen physicochemical performed to evaluate Tigris River drinking usage. done by subjecting samples collected from eight stations Baghdad city during period 2004-2010 comprehensive analysis. included: Turbidity, Alkalinity (TA), Total Hardness (TH), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), pH value, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sulphate (SO4 -2), Chloride (Cl-), Solids (TS), Suspended (TSS), Nitrite (NO2-), Nitrate (NO3-), Ammonia (NH3), Orthophosphate (PO4-3). average annual WQI 224.32 period. high value obtained is result concentrations turbidity, total hardness, electrical conductivity, solids which can be attributed various human activities taking place at river banks. From analysis classified "very poor quality" ranging upstream near Al-Karhk WTP unsuitable downstream Al-Wahda would need further treatment. present demonstrated estimating understanding River. appears promising valuable tool categorizing pollution sources surface waters.