Study of some physical and chemical characteristics of the Al-Daghara and Al-Shamiyah Rivers

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate some physical and chemical characteristics of water in Al-Shamiyah and Al-Daghara Rivers during the period 2025–2026. Several parameters were measured to assess water quality, including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), nitrite (NO₂), nitrate (NO₃), and phosphate (PO₄). The results showed considerable spatial and seasonal variations among the study sites. The highest water temperature recorded was 25°C, while the lowest was 11°C. pH values ranged from 7.4 to 8.6, indicating neutral to slightly alkaline water. Electrical conductivity varied between 1036 and 2480 µS/cm, whereas TDS ranged from 600 to 1438 mg/L. Turbidity values ranged from 0.56 to 52.52 NTU. Total hardness recorded values between 320 and 732 mg/L. Calcium concentrations ranged from 320 to 732 mg/L, while magnesium concentrations ranged from 81.3 to 160 mg/L. Dissolved oxygen varied between 7.56 and 12.91 mg/L, whereas BOD₅ ranged from near zero to 4.52 mg/L. Nitrite concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 0.729 mg/L, nitrate from 1.268 to 14.391 mg/L, and phosphate from 0.002 to 0.171 mg/L. The study concluded that water quality in both rivers is influenced by seasonal changes, agricultural activities, and runoff, resulting in noticeable fluctuations in physicochemical parameters.