Evaluation of Tigris River by Water Quality Index Analysis Using C++ Program

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2012.47061

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Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2012, 4, 523-527

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2012.47061 Published Online July 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/jwarp)

Evaluation of Tigris River by Water Quality Index

Analysis Using C++ Program

Allaa M. Aenab1, S. K. Singh1, Adil Abbas Majeed Al-Rubaye2

1Environmental Engineering Department, Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi, India

2Electrical & Communication Engineering Department, Al-Mansour University College, Baghdad, Iraq

Email: [email protected]

Received April 3, 2012; revised May 1, 2012; accepted June 3, 2012

ABSTRACT

In the capital city of Baghdad, The surface water suffering from effect of conservative pollutants. Baghdad city has two

rivers, the main river Tigris River and Diyala River in boundary of Baghdad city (Jassir Diyala) eastern of Baghdad as

is shown in Figure 1. The present study deals with the evaluation of water quality of Tigris River within Baghdad. In

the case of Tigris River the concentrations of TH, TDS, PO4 and SO4 were found to lie outside the acceptable range of

WHO standards by using WQI analysis and C++ program.

Keywords: Tigris River; Water Quality; WQI; C++ Program and River Evaluation

1. Introduction

The main rivers of Iraq, the Tigris and the Euphrates

which cover an area of 126,900 km2 and 177,600 km2

respectively, cross Iraq by their middle and lower reaches,

eventually to confluence in the river Shatt Al-Arab, be-

fore flowing into the Arabian Gulf. The Tigris provides

all the main tributaries within Iraq (Greater Zab, Lesser

Zab, Adhaim and Diyala) with no tributaries sourced

from the Euphrates. The arid regions along the watershed

are characterized by the existence of “wadis” in the upper

reached of Iraq. More than 90% of Iraq’s water depen-

dent needs are met by surface water and 80% of this wa-

ter flow comes from its three neighboring countries [1].

The Tigris is 1850 km long, rising in the Taurus

Mountains of eastern Turkey about 25 km southeast of

the city of Elazig and about 30 km from the headwaters

of the Euphrates. The river then flows for 400 km

through Turkish territory before becoming the border

between Syria and Iraq. This stretch of 44 km is the only

part of the river that is located in Syria. The remaining

1418 km are entirely within the Iraqi borders [2]. Since

1965, when Horton (1965) proposed the first water qual-

ity index (WQI), a great deal of consideration has been

given to the development of “water quality index” meth-

ods with the intent of providing a tool for simplifying the

reporting of water quality data. However, there is no re-

liable water quality index has been developed in Iraq to

assess water suitability of irrigation [3]. WQI is a set of

standards used to measure changes in water quality in a

particular river reach over time and make comparisons

from different reaches of a river. A WQI also allows for

comparisons to be made between different rivers. This

index allows for a general analysis of water quality on

many levels that affect a stream’s ability to host life [4].

WQI is an arithmetical tool used to transform large quan-

tities of water quality data into a single cumulatively de-

rived number. It represents a certain level of water qual-

ity while eliminating the subjective assessments of such

quality [5-7]. It is intended as a simple, readily under-

standable tool for managers and decision makers to con-

vey information on the quality and potential uses of a

given water body, based on various criteria [6]. Further

more it turns complex water quality data into information

that is understandable and usable by the public. It gives

the public a general idea of the water quality in a par-

ticular region. Water Quality Index (WQI) is a very use-

ful and efficient method for assessing the suitability of

water quality. It is also a very useful tool for communi-

cating the information on overall quality of water to the

concerned citizens and policy makers. It, thus, becomes

an important parameter for the assessment and manage-

ment of water quality (both surface and groundwater).

WQI reflects the composite influence of different water

quality parameters and is calculated from the point of

view of the suitability of (both surface and groundwater)

for human consumption [8]. Table 1 showing Water

Quality Index Ranges is [9,10].

2. Objectives and Approach

The objectives are important tools, used in a framework

A. M. AENAB ET AL.

524

Table 1. Water quality index categories.

WQI 0 - 25 26 - 50 51 - 75 76 - 100 >100

Water

Quality Excellent Good Poor Very Poor Unsuitable

Source: Brown et al., 1970 [10].

Figure 1. Map of Tigris River within Baghdad city.

of provincial and federal environmental assessment, risk

management, and the application of best available treat-

ment technology, which support the management, pro-

tection and enhancement of the surface water resources

of the province [11]. The main objective of this paper is

to develop an index method for assessing water quality to

use this method to assess the general water suitability of

irrigation for use in agriculture. Monitoring water quality

parameters in Tigris River and calculate overall water

quality index (WQI) for evaluate Tigris River water in

study area by using C++ program for this calculation.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Study Area

Both Tigris and the Euphrates are international rivers

originating from Turkey. The Tigris river basin in Iraq

has a total area of 253,000 km2, or 54% of the total river

basin area. For the Tigris, average annual runoff as it

enters Iraq is estimated at 21.2 km3. All the Tigris tribu-

taries are on its left bank. From upstream to downstream

[12]:

 The Greater Zab, which originates in Turkey and is

partly regulated by the Bakhma dam. It generates

13.18 km3 at its confluence with the Tigris; 62% of

the 25,810 km2 of river basin is in Iraq;

 The Lesser Zab, which originates in Iran and is

equipped with the Dokan dam (6.8 km). The river ba-

sin of 21,475 km2 (of which 74% is in Iraqi territory)

generates about 7.17 km, of which 5.07 km3 of annual

safe yield after the Dokan construction;

 The Al-Adhaim (or Nahr Al Uzaym) which drains

about 13,000 km2 entirely in Iraq. It generates about

0.79 km3 at its confluence with the Tigris. It is an in-

termittent stream subject to flash floods;

 The Diyala, which originates in Iran and drains about

31,896 km2 of which 75% in Iraqi territory. It is

equipped with the Darbandikhan dam and generates

about 5.74 km3 at its confluence with the Tigris;

 The Nahr at Tib, Dewarege (Doveyrich) and Shehabi

Rivers, draining together more than 8000 km2. They

originate in Iran, and bring together in the Tigris

about 1 km3 of highly saline waters;

 The Al-Karkha, whose course is mainly in Iran and,

from a drainage area of 46,000 km2, brings about 6.3

km3 yearly into Iraq, namely into the Hawr Al Ha-

wiza during the flood season, and into the Tigris

River during the dry season.

Turkey shares the waters of the Tigris River with the

states of Syria and Iraq. Particularly Iraq relies on the

water of the Tigris River and could almost not have any

agriculture and water supply of urban centers without the

water of Tigris and Euphrates. The fact that the storage

capacity of the proposed Ilisu Dam and other dam pro-

jects is larger (at least 21 Cubic Kilometers) than the

annual water flow of the Tigris (17 Cubic Kilometers)

from Turkey to Iraq, explains the high impact of this

project [13]. The Tigris collects 43% of its flow in Tur-

key and 57% of its flow within Iraq from left-bank tribu-

taries including the Greater Zab, Lesser Zab, Adhaim and

Diyala Rivers. Usage of Tigris water within Iraq includes

agricultural irrigation, and municipal water supply; the

Tigris also has several water storage facilities for flood

control and power generation within Iraq. Between 1928

and 1946, the average stream flow of the Tigris as it en-

tered Iraq was 18 bcm/yr; stream flow in the Tigris in-

creased to 42 bcm/yr (billion cubic meters per year) past

its confluence with the Diyala River; discharges south of

this point reduced flow in the Tigris to 37 bcm/yr at Kut.

Past Kut, the Tigris supplies water for irrigation and pub-

lic water supply and also discharges to the Central Marsh.

Combined, these discharges reduced its flow to 7 bcm/yr

at Amarahh and 3 bcm/yr at Qalat Salih during this same

time period [14].

3.2. Samples Collection

Water samples were collected from selected eight sta-

tions in Tigris River from January 2004 to December

2010. The samples were collected from just under water

surface for analysis of selected parameters included: pH,

biological oxygen demand (BOD5), nitrate (NO3), phos-

phate (PO4), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hard-

ness (TH), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Chlorides

(Cl), Sulphates (SO4), Sodium (Na) and electrical con-

A. M. AENAB ET AL. 525

ductivity (EC).

3.3. Application of C++ Program

3.3.1. Introduction

C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm,

compiled, general-purpose programming language. C++

is sometimes called a hybrid language. It is regarded as

an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combi-

nation of both high-level and low-level language features

[15]. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in

1979 at Bell Labs as an enhancement to the C language.

Originally named C with Classes, the language was re-

named C++ in 1983 [16]. C++ is one of the most popular

programming languages [17,18] with application do-

mains including systems software, application software,

device drivers, embedded software, high-performance

server and client applications, and entertainment software

such as video games [19]. Several groups provide both

free and proprietary C++ compiler software. C++ has

greatly influenced many other popular programming lan-

guages, most notably C# and Java. After years of deve-

lopment, the C++ programming language standard was

ratified in 1998 as ISO/IEC 14882:1998. The standard

was amended by the 2003 technical corrigendum, ISO/

IEC 14882:2003. The current standard extending C++

with new features was ratified and published by ISO in

September 2011 as ISO/IEC 14882:2011 (informally

known as C++11) [20,21].

3.3.2. Algorit hms and Steps

In my work using language C++ under window to execu-

tion, and perform some steps to implementation this pro-

gram:

 Create Project File consist of number of files.

 Create dialog boxes that perform to dialog with users.

 Read and input Data to system for all stations from

users.

 Select type of process from menu (Normality Test,

Z-Test, t_Test, ANOVA (analysis of variance) Test

and Water Quality Index).

 Execution algorithm and calculate mathematics for all

process after enter data.

 Display Result with high speed (Less than 1 second).

As is shown in Figure 2.

3.3.2. Water Qualit y I nde x Cal cul a tion

The WQI was calculated using the standards of drinking

water quality recommended by the World Health Or-

ganization (WHO). The weighted arithmetic index me-

thod [10] was used for the calculation of WQI of the sur-

face water. Further, quality rating or sub index (qn) was

calculated using the following expression.

qn = 100 [Vn – Vio ]/[Sn – Vn]

Input Data

↓

Select Process

↓

Execution Algorithms

↓

Display Results

Figure 2. C++ diagram.

(Let there be n water quality parameters and quality

rating or sub index (qn) corresponding to nth parameter

is a number reflecting the relative value of this parameter

in the polluted water with respect to its standard, maxi-

mum permissible value).

qn = Quality rating for the nth water quality parameter.

Vn = Estimated value of the nth parameter at a given

sampling point.

Sn = Standard permissible value of the nth parameter.

Vio = Ideal value of nth parameter in pure water (i.e. 0

for all other parameters except the parameter pH and

Dissolve Oxygen (7.0 and 14.6 mg/L respectively).

Unit weight was calculated by a value inversely pro-

portional to the recommended standard.

value Sn of the corresponding parameter.

Wn = K/Sn.

Wn unit weight for the nth parameters.

Sn = standard value for the nth parameters.

K = constant for proportionality.

The overall WQI was calculated by aggregating the

quality rating with the unit weight linearly.

WQIqnWn Wn



.

4. Results

Table 2 presents the result of the physical parameters of

surface water quality. The result showed that Total Hard-

ness (TH) in very high range and cross WHO limit

(344.4 mg/l) and phosphate (PO4) in highest value and

cross WHO standard (0.3 mg/l). Also we found the elec-

trical conductivity (EC) in high value (1175.7 mg/l) and

that more than WHO standard. WQI for the year of 2004

it was 589.1552 > 100 this means unsuitable for use.

Figure 3 shows all the years (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,

2008, 2009 & 2010) the result almost same all results of

WQI was above 100 and that makes surface water in

Tigris River unsuitable for use.

5. Conclusions

The year of 2004 has three parameters out of WHO

standard values, it was TH (344.4 mg/l), PO4 (0.3 mg/l)

and EC (1170.1 mg/l), WQI in total was (589.1552). For

the year of 2005, 2008 & 2009 it has five parameters out

of WHO standard values and that parameters is TH

A. M. AENAB ET AL.

526

Table 2. Water Quality Index result by C++ program for

the year 2004.

Figure 3. Water Quality Index (WQI) values for the years

(2004-2010).

(389.975, 421.225 & 416.575 mg/l), respectively, T.D.S

(611.89, 616.1373 & 626.74 mg/l), SO4 (237.5, 201 &

201.1 mg/l), PO4 (0.325, 0.325 & 0.375 mg/l) and EC

(1170.1, 1175.78 & 1170.1 mg/l), WQI in total was

(638.1017, 638.0811 & 735.7739). In 2006 & 2007 there

is four parameters out of WHO standard values, it was

TH (337.2 & 321.55 mg/l), respectively, T.D.S (618.1 &

583.525 mg/l), SO4 (245.975 & 244.775 mg/l) and PO4

(0.45 & 0.525 mg/l), WQI in total was (881.8434 &

1028.4301). Finally in year of 2010 has two parameters

out of WHO standard limit values, the parameters was

TH (285.6 mg/l) and PO4 (0.463 mg/l), WQI in total

(907.1375).

From all above result we can see all of WQI > 100 and

that’s means WQI type is unsuitable for use.

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