Application of irrigation and drinking water quality indices to monitor ground water quality using geographic information system: a case study of the basins around Urmia Lake, Iran

ABSTRACT

Urmia Lake located in the north-west of Iran, is one of the largest hyper-saline lakes in the world. In this study, classification of groundwater of the eastern basin of Urmia Lake and the results of groundwater samples of the eastern basin of Urmia Lake that included physical and chemical parameters such as electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, SO4 ²⁻ and SAR were analysed for drinking and agricultural purposes. Results show that the use of GIS and water quality index could provide a very useful and efficient tool for the management of water resources. According to the DWQI, 56% samples were classified as good in Ajabsheir, 33% samples were classified as good in Azarshahr, 38% samples were classified as excellent in Oskou, 30% samples were classified as good in shabstar. Based on the results of the irrigation water quality index (IWQI), over 70% of samples were the ‘High restriction’ category in Ajabsheir, 60% of samples were the ‘Moderate restriction’ in Azarshahr. About 52% of samples were the ‘Severe restriction’ in Oskou, 70% of samples were the ‘High restriction’ category in Shabstar. Obtained results from this study indicate that the hydrological condition of groundwater is an important factor controlling the physical and chemical parameters in groundwater.

KEYWORDS:

• DWQI
• IWQI
• Urmia Lake
• GIS
• groundwater

Acknowledgements

This research has been supported by the Tehran university medical science. The authors also thank the East Azerbaijan Regional Water Authority for providing data and information.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.