Hydrogeological Study for Mulussa Aquifer Between Rutba and Dhabaa-West of Iraq

Abstract

The study area is located at Al Rutba city, in Al-Anbar Governorate, western Iraq. It is located between 3653442.86 m and 3659709.33 m to the north and 617632.76 m and 643771.85 m to the east. The total area is expanded over about 174.87 Km2 with an elevation of (585–645 m a.s.l.). According to metrological data the total annual rainfall was 113.3 mm and relative humidity was 47.1 %, while monthly average temperature was 20.1 °C, evaporation was 3074.3 mm, wind speed was 2.6 m/s and sunshine duration was 9.2 h/day. Climate of the study area is described as an arid and relatively hot in summer, and cold with low rain in winter. During the 36 years' comparison period, water surplus was recorded in the study area was 19.849 % of the total rainfall. The value of groundwater recharge was 22.489 mm with a rate of 19.849% which represents the percentage of groundwater recharge from the total rainfall. The groundwater moves in directions of (NE, E and SE) influenced by depletion process in the amount of hydraulic gradient ranged between (0.0000416 - 0.008036). The groundwater flux and groundwater pore velocity are reached (0.00451) m/day and (25.02) m/day, respectively. Mulussa aquifer is carbonate beds, where represents confined aquifer conditions. The values of transmissivity, permeability and storage coefficient are ranged between (0.507 – 250) m2/day, (0.00547 - 3.05) m/day and (9.65 x 10-5 - 2.64 x 10-4) respectively. While the estimated of transmissivities which are obtained from specific capacity ranged (208.041 – 862.166) m2/day. This variation in the values revealing the great variations in the aquifer lithology, which was affected by intensity and the number of fractures and joints. The concentration of ions of groundwater samples for the wet period are lower than the dry period due to the dilution process, according to the TDS values the groundwater in the study area has classified as fresh to slightly water and the hardness of water is hard to very hard. The results show that the groundwater of the study area is unpolluted with trace elements such as (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd and Zn). The most prevalent water type is calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO3)2 and the second prevailing type is calcium sulfate CaSO4 while the calcium chloride CaCl2 is a lower rate in the study area. The groundwater in the study area is suitable for drinking water, livestock, building and agricultural purposes, but it's unsuitable for industrial purposes. The HWQI for all groundwater samples in two periods are (<50) and indicate that all groundwater samples are excellent water for human drinking, except (W-17, W-18 and W-20) in dry period and (W-17) in wet period have a raise very little about class I, which mean that the wells are good water for human drinking