International Journal of Marine Science 2015, Vol.5, No.49: 1-9
7
that use raw water. Total solids also affect water clarity.
Higher solids decrease the passage of light through
water, thereby slowing photosynthesis by aquatic
plants. Water will heat up more rapidly and hold more
heat; this, in turn, might adversely affect aquatic life
that has adapted to a lower temperature regime.
Sources of total solids include industrial discharges,
sewage, fertilizers, road runoff, and soil erosion. TDS
range from 900-5965 mg/L during (1975-2000) (Hasan
and Mahmood 2003) for Shatt AL-Arab water and
within the study period from (142 and 5566.00) in Al
Fao and paper factory respectively. High concen-
trations of TDS in spring and autumn seasons as
compared with that in the winter season may be due to
the addition of solids from runoff water and sewage
effluents which increase the TDS values in the river.
This result was in agreement with Hassan et al. (2010)
and Al-Hejuje (2015) who found that TDS values in the
Euphrates and Shatt Al-Arab river respectively increased
in winter months and decreased in summer months.
The total suspended solids (TSS) values range between
(11-18 mg/L) during (1978) which considered as a low
value that may be because of the sedimentation process
in marshes. These result can be observed during the
study period, the mean value of TSS (66.25, 60.42,
54.25, 65.33, 52, 57.33) mg/L for six station
respectively .value in Tigris (turbid water) 64 mg/L and
in Al-Qurna location is 13 mg/L rising in Sibah to 44
mg/L and 147 mg/L in Al-Fao this location effected
with Karone sediment and sea tide.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because
suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn,
reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO)
because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher
turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating
the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the
production of DO. Suspended materials can clog fish
gills, reducing resistance to disease in fish, lowering
growth rates, and affecting egg and larval development.
As the particles settle, they can blanket the stream
bottom, especially in slower waters, and smother fish
eggs and benthic macro invertebrates. Sources of
turbidity include: Soil erosion, Waste discharge Urban
runoff, eroding estuary banks, Large numbers of
bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom
sediments, excessive algal growth. One of the
important light parameter which is of well relation with
clearness of water that considered as an indication to
suspended mater in water , it values range between
(0.80-163.00) FTU for study area Shatt Al-Arab river
has high turbid water which exceeded the permissible
value (5 NTU) in aquatic ecosystems.
Calcium & Magnesium (Ca , Mg)
elements exist
widely in water. In natural water Ca concentration
range between (10 – 100)mg/L causing water hardness.
Mg concentration Range between (5-50)mg/L , and if
exceed 125 mg/L causing diarrhea and also softening
hardness. during (1968-2000) (Hasan and Mahmood ,
2003). Ca concentration ranges from1 36 mg/L to 160
mg/L Mg concentration Range from 96 mg/L to 223
mg/While the range between (212.1-280) mg/L for Ca
and (67.4-691.4) mg/L for mg during 2004 (Al- Mayah,
2004). In this study Ca concentration range from
32.00 to 360 mg/L while Mg concentration range from
14.58 to 899 mg/L .Ca and mg concentrations
Considered as a high value but they are still within the
standard of WHO (2011), in Shatt Al-Arab river.
Bicarbonate (HCO
3
) Alkalinity of the most natural and
treated water are Ca , mg bicarbonate when pH degree
for this water does not exceed 8.3. during (1988-2000)
HCO3 conc. Ranges (183-244) mg/L and during 2004
it ranges (133.8-131.2)mg/L. in this study its conc.
Range (53.46-976) mg/L. this rising in HCO3
concentration Is accompanied by rising in pH and Ca,
Mg conc. That refer to an expected in the chemical
constitution of Shatt Al-Arab water which may be a
result of water pollution.
High concentration of Cl is caused by the geological
components which contain chloride. Except that high
concentration of Cl is an indication for high pollution
of sewage water , some industrial waste , because of
tide see or any saline water which have a bad effect on
modern pipes, agriculture and factories. during (1988 –
2001) Cl range between (137 – 1060) mg/L ,and during
the study period range (241.06-2056.6) mg/L for Qurna
and Al-Ashar and that refer to the increase of industrial
waste in river water (Table 1)
Nitrates are a form of nitrogen, which is found in
several different forms in terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems. These forms of nitrogen include ammonia
(NH3), nitrates (NO3), and nitrites (NO2). Nitrates are
essential plant nutrients, but in excess amounts they
can cause significant water quality problems. Together
