HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS &GROUND WATER USES IN DHI QAR GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Thie Qar Governorate is located at the southern part of Iraq . It is considerd as a part of the unstable shelf within the Mesopotamia plain . the most parts of the governorate are coverd by Quaternary sediments , Dibdibba Formation is cropped out at the south and southwestern parts with Zahra Formation at local positions. From the topographic point of view , the Governorate can be divided into two parts : the first part represents most area of the governorate covered by Quaternary sediments with general slope from north and northwest towards south and southeast , while the second part represents the southern and southwestern area of the governorate which are coverd mainly by Dibdibba Formation with general slope towards the northeast . The climate of the governorate is minaly arid which is characterized by relatively cold winter with low rainfall with hot and dry summer . The Quaternary sediments represent the main upper aquifer within most parts of the governorate, while Dibdibba Formation represents the main upper aquifer within the southern and southwestern parts in addition to Ghar/Euphrates Formation , while Dammam Formation represents the deep aquifer within these parts. The general direction of ground water flow within the eastern parts of the governorate to the east of Euphrates River is toward south and southeast , while at other parts that locate to the west and south of Euphrates River and Hor Al- Hammar the direction of flow is mainly toward northeast in accordance with the topography of the area . Ground water quality is mainly chloridic . The ground water is classified according to total dissolved solids (salinity) into six classes : Fresh water , slightly brackish water , brackish water ( two sub classes : moderately saline and saline ), salty water and brine . In general the ground water within Thie Qar Governorate is characterized by high salinity except within the area along Al-Gharraf river and other irrigation channels which recharge the ground water. Most of the available drilled wells are not suitable for drinking, irrigation, industrial and building and construction purposes with out treatment due to high salinity.