Prof. Dr. Moutaz A. M. Al-Dabbas& Jawad K.Manii College of Science , University of Baghdad IRAQ profaldabbas@yahoo.c

1. Assessment of Surface Water,& Groundwater Quality of Haur Al-Hammar after Restoration /Southern Iraq Prof. Dr. Moutaz A. M. Al-Dabbas& Jawad K.Manii College of Science , University of Baghdad IRAQ profaldabbas@yahoo.com iraqiexpertsoc@yahoo.com Mob: 009647902290029

2. The Marshlands /Southern Iraq The marshlands are situated north of Basrah City occupying a triangular area between three cities of Basrah, Misan and Nassirya, discharging their water to the Arabian Gulf, through the Shut Al-Arab Estuary. Water shortages in the region have changed the nature of the marshlands in southern Iraq. The marshlands receive their water supply from the two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, as well as from the drainage systems and irrigation channels which together form lakes of different depths of approximately (1 - 1.5 meters). These lakes are joined together through a network of channels which are used by the people of the marshlands to travel to different settlements, as well as the surrounding country-sides. The water of the marshland is mobile, not stagnant, such as the Hammar marshland which is known to be the largest fresh water marshland in Iraq as it intersects the Euphrates River.

4. People in the Marshes live in huts built from reeds and reeds matting, with attractive designs that go back to ancient times.They look like hundreds of islands clustered together into small townships. In March and April the weather is pleasant, and the whole place is shot through with plants and flowers. Reeds may rise 7 m high and papyrus,3 m .In the winter season water birds of all kinds migrate to the Marshes, which then becomes a hunters paradise. Fish, however, are always plentiful and the local inhabitants catch them with nets or spear them with a five-prongedfala,peculiar to the area.

5. . Studies of satellite images of the geographical areas show that only 10% of the marshland exists of the original 20,000 sq. Km, represented by the Huwaiza Marsh which depends on the excess water that reaches it from the Kurkha River flowing from Iran, while Qurna and Hammar Marshes that used to cover 20,000 square km have disappeared. As a result, the marshlands lost many of their plant and animal species, and in consequence have also lost many of their people.

6. . The Mesopotamian Marshland on downstream of the Tigris and Euphrates basin southern Iraq have been seriously damaged during the last two decades.The marshland therefore has become saline, with frequent sandstorms unfit for cultivation . Although, in February 1993, the United Nations expressed their concerns over the destruction of the wetlands, more efforts are needed to draw concrete actions to address this humanitarian and environmental disaster. The first action that is required, would be the respect of the riparian rights. Blocking these two international rivers is the main reason for this environmental tragedy in the south of Iraq, including the climatic effects associated withit.

7. Aims of study To adopt an integrated approach to assess the changing environmental impact of the marsh after their period of desiccation . ByProducing maps of concentrations of anions and cations in surface water, ground water and marsh sediment water extracts as well as concentrations of trace elements in marsh water & by using GIS. As an attempt to understand the hydrochemistry of the surface & ground water in Hammar Marsh relate these to elements release in water. As well as using Powersim Studio-7 system dynamics model to build prediction model for the Marsh restoration.

8. Geology, Hydrogeology, Hydrology • The marshlands are generally underlain by the Recent Younger Alluvium consisting of alluvial, marine, lacustrine, and playa sediments reaching thicknesses up to 160 meter. • This marsh is situated on the right bank of the Euphrates River; it is about 90 Km long and 25-30 km wide. Hammar Marsh was fed primarily by flooding and tributaries of the Euphrates at Suq ashuyukh via a systemofsmaller rivers. Hammar marshlands have several outlets all into the Shatt Al Arab, Mushab ,Salal, (Karmat Ali), Shafi and Gumej rivers. These are affected by tidal actions as well. • groundwater occurs within the recent alluvium, that is consisting of clay, silt, fine sand . water table intersects the surface. The water table parallels the ground surface, and slopes to the southeast.

9. Aim of the study

10. Climatology The climate of Iraq is mainly of the continental, subtropical arid type. Humidity precipitation Temperature Evapotranspiration

11. Result and DiscussionHydrochemistry of surface water Hammar Marsh • The pH of the restored marsh is slightly alkaline. The marsh are generally more saline than the rivers due to further evaporation and agricultural runoff. The Hammar Marsh salinity, ranging up to 0.86 to 4.07 parts per thousand in the summer and 0.81 to 3.4 part per thousand in spring, with salinity increasing to the south and east. All the ions concentrations in the water of Hammar Marsh are higher than the worldwide freshwater average and lower than the average concentration in seawater. The concentrations of ions increase toward south . except sulphate, which behaves in the opposite manner .

16. Hydrochemistry of surface water Hammar Marsh • The distribution of the major ions according to their decreasing concentration was Na+ >Mg++ >Ca++ >K+ ; Cl->SO4-2 >HCO3-. • The water type was Ca-Mg-Na-SO4-Chloride Type and Ca-Mg-Na-Cl-sulfate. • The concentration of these ions seems exceed the permissible limits for human drinking WHO (2003). • Low concentrations of most trace elements studied Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni were below detection levels of the instrument for the water samples.

17. Grain Size &Mineralogy of Hammar Marsh Sediments The grain size analysis reflects that the sediments of Al-Hammar Marsh are classified as clayey silt dominance 50%, sandy silt 16%, silty sand 16% and silty mud 6.2%. The mineralogical analysis indicates that they are composed mainly of the Carbonates (calcite, dolomite) calcite (30%), dolomite (7%), quartz (31%), and feldspars (8%) minerals, while, Gypsum is found in the surface sediments as authigenic minerals. The clay minerals are Montmorillonite, Kaolinite, Illite, and Smectites.

18. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Shallow ground water • The hydrochemical composition of shallow ground water Hammer Marsh area indicates that one water type that is sulfate water type with various proportions of the cations . • The hydrochemical analyses of shallow ground water are indicate sulfate water type, (Ca- Mg- Na)- sulfate , (Ca -Mg- Na )- HCO3 – sulfate and (Ca- Mg- Na-)-Cl-sulfate water type . • According to the total concentration of soluble salts by Altoviski (1962) classification, all ground water in the study area may be termed as slightly brackish water and is considered unsuitable for human drinking on the basis of the total dissolved solid.

19. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep Ground Water The salinity of the deep ground water show gradual increasing from south to the north and the water type graduate from fresh water in southern part to brine water in the north near Al Nassirya city. High concentration of magnesium( max 4000 ppm) ,calcium( 2000ppm), and sulphate ions (10000ppm) were indicated in the north and northeast direction .Chloride (max 1750 ppm) reflect higher values in southwest ward while , sodium ( max 10000ppm) show different distribution ,that was increasing in the northeast direction and in the central region .TDS reaches maximum values of about 64613 ppm. On the basis of the upward information the movement direction of deep ground water to west of the marshlands, and through weakness zones , it was possible for groundwater to mix with the surface water of the marsh and it could be responsible to the high salinity of the marsh water in certain south and western parts of Al-Hammar Marsh .

20. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep Ground Water In some parts of Haur Al-Hammar water, there is some contribution from the Dammam deep aquifer along fault planes. Actually, Haur Al-Hammar marsh is representing the discharge zone of the groundwater & the type of Haur Al-Hammar surface water is affected by the type of groundwater. The major components of the deep groundwater (Dammam aquifer waters) concentration values increase toward the discharge zone (such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulphate, chloride elements). The groundwater in the Dammam aquifer is mainly sulphatic, with a prevailed calcium and sodium hydrofacies. The sulphate group is attributed to the connection of water with gypsum and anhydrite rocks. The bicarbonate group is restricted to the location of land depressions, due to the effect of rainwater that accumulates in these depressions, where some are percolates to the shallow aquifer, or moves down in fault planes to relatively deeper aquifers.

23. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water • The salinity of deep ground water shows gradual increasing from south to the north and the water type graduate from fresh water in southern part to brine water in the north near An- Nassirya city.

24. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water

25. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water

26. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water

27. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water

28. Ground water in Hammar Marsh Deep ground water

30. The amount of water needed to restoration the marsh can be collect within 10 years beginning from 2003,and these result to corresponding within the time that necessary to restoration the marsh that determined from the ministry of irrigation.

31. CONCLUSION . The Mesopotamian marshes of southern Iraq earlier assessments suggested that poor water quality, the presence of toxic materials, and high saline soil conditions in the drained marshes would prevent their ecological restoration. However, the high volume of good-quality water entering the marshes from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, allowed about > 25% of the former Al-Hammar marsh to be reflooded. However, the future availability of water for restoration is in question, which suggests that only a portion of the former marshes may be restored.

32. CONCLUSION 1-Because of the low rainfall and high evaporation within the marsh area, restoration of the marsh is highly dependent upon the supply of water from the Euphrates River. 2- The water quality of the marsh is largely affected by the arid climate, soil conditions, upstream waters on the Euphrates and probably with the ground water . 3- The water quality is good and supports the natural life cycles of restored marsh. 4- The concentration of trace elements in the sediments water extracts of the marsh occurs with the natural (background) concentrations. 5- Limited area of the marsh have been suitable for agricultural purpose .

33. . Conclusion: 6- It is necessary to plan and map out an overall strategy to achieve restoration of the marshlands. The overall strategy would involve tackling different aspects of the problem simultaneously . 7- Carry out scientific studies related to preventing further deterioration in the Marshlands and to provide possible solutions for the restoration of at least a part of the affected marshlands, such as estimates the availableamount of water needed from upstream. 8- A comprehensive study is needed for developing the economy of the region as a whole.