Assessment of Aji-Chay River Pollution in Tabriz Plain Area Using Water Quality Indices

آب و خاک

Article 1, Volume 34, Issue 6 - Serial Number 74, January 2021, Pages 1203-1218   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jsw.v34i6.80732

Authors

Z. Pashazadeh Laleh¹; H. Jafari^{* 2}; A.R. Vaezi Hir³

¹M.Sc. Student of Environmental Geology Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Iran

²Associate Professor of Hydrogeology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Iran

³Associate Professor of Hydrogeology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Geology, Tabriz University, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The water is the major key in sustainable development, so it is necessary to be managed and conserved. The quality of surface water resources is mainly controlled by natural or geogenic factors including chemistry of recharge water, soil and geology processes, as well as the man-made contaminant. Qualitative indicators are used as effective managing tools in decision making programs. Water quality indices (WQI) are the simple and suitable tools to determine the quality statue of the water. In order to calculate the water quality index, many parameters are integrated in mathematical formula to represent the quality condition of the water with a number which classifies the quality in the scales of the weak to excellent. Many water quality indices were introduced by researchers and organizations around the world. Aji-Chay, one of the most important flowing rivers in East-Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran, is passing through Tabriz plain in its way and finally ends to the Uremia lake. Regarding the focused industrial zones, agricultural field and urban areas in this plain, the river is highly vulnerable to pollution and quality degradation. So, this study was aimed to assess the Aji-chay River based on quality indicators, in order to helps its better management.
Materials and Methods: In this research for assessing pollution of the Aji-Chay river using water quality indices, 16 sampling stations were located along the river and water samples were collected during wet (May 2016) and dry (September 2016) seasons. Electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were measured in the field and total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, major ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO₃, Cl, SO₄), nitrate (NO₃), phosphate (PO₄), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological contaminants (fecal coliform) were determined in the laboratory. Quality indicators including the US national sanitary foundation water quality indices in the two forms of multiplicative (NSFWQI_m) and additive (NSFWQI_a) and Iranian surface water quality index (IRWQI_sc) were used to assess the quality of the Aji-Chay river.
Results and Discussion: Turbidity and Electrical conductivity (EC) is high at the upstream which is related to movement of the River in upper red formation (Miocene series) which enhances the chloride, sodium, calcium and sulfate. Arsenic concentrations are exceeding the drinking standards (0.01 ppm) across all samples mainly from a geogenic sources as well as discharge of wastewater in some areas. The elements Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Mo, Co, Zn, Fe and Al are mainly geogenic, whereas Cu, Ba and Cr are mostly originated from anthropogenic activities. Based on the results, river quality at the wet season is highly controlled by the main branch and Gomnab-Chay, but Mehran-rood plays the major role in downstream water quality at the dry season due to its higher discharge rate. The process was confirmed by Piper and Schoeller diagrams. Most of the parameters are increased in middle parts at the river where the concentrated sources of contaminates and discharge of wastewater increased the organic and biological constituents and nutrients especially in dry season. Assessing the river quality for agricultural uses based on modified Wilcox diagram shows except for Mehran-rood, the other samples are unsuitable for agriculture and the dry season quality is better than the wet season. Based on the results, increase in most parameters and so, pollution and quality degradation of the river are observed to the downstream. Assessing quality of the Aji-Chay river using US national sanitary foundation water quality indices in the two forms of multiplicative (NSFWQI_m) and additive (NSFWQI_a) and Iranian surface water quality index (IRWQI_sc) confirmed the bad to very bad qualitative statue of the river in most stations especially in the middle parts of the Tabriz plain. The results revealed that quality degradation of Aji-Chay river is probably due to discharge of contaminants from municipal and industrial wastewaters (effluents), highlighting the need for managing actions to improve quality of this important river. Comparing the quality indices showed the priority of NSFWQI_m (multiplicative form of US national sanitary foundation water quality indices) in quality classification and pollution assessment of the Aji-Chay river.
Conclusion: Quality degradation of Aji-Chay river is probably due to discharge of contaminants from municipal and industrial wastewater effluents, indicating the need for managing actions to improve quality of this river. In this study priority of NSFWQI_m (multiplicative form of US national sanitary foundation water quality indices) in quality classification and pollution assessment of the Aji-Chay river was confirmed.

Keywords

Coliform; Quality Classification; East-Azerbaijan; Quality degradation; Nitrate; Wastewater

References

1. Alizadeh M., Mirzaei R., and Kia SH. 2017. Determining the spatial trend of water quality indices across Kan and Karaj River Basins. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 4:3:243-256. (In Persian)
2. Akkoyunlu A., and Akiner M.E. 2012. Pollution evaluation in streams using water quality indices: A case study from Turkey’s Sapanca Lake Basin. Ecol. Indic., 18: 501–511.
3. Amadi A.N., Yisa J., Ogbonnaya I.C., Dan-Hassan M.A., Jacob J.O., and Alkali Y.B. 2012. Quality evaluation of river chanchaga using metal pollution index and principal component analysis. Geogr. Geol., 4: 2: 13.
4. Abbasi A., and Abbasi S.A. 2012. Water quality indices.
5. Chapman D.V. 1996. Water quality assessments: a guide to the use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring.
6. Daneshfar M., and Haghzadeh A. 2014 Trending and monitoring of water quality in up- and downstream of Khoram abad river, Notional Symposium of science and watershed management. (In Persian)
7. Ebrahimpour S., and Mohammadzadeh H. Assesing and zoning of the water quality of Zarivar lake using qualitative indicators of CWQI,OWQI and NSFWQI. Envirinmental Res., 4: 7: 137–146. (In Persian)
8. Effendi H., and Wardiatno Y. 2015. Water quality status of Ciambulawung River, Banten Province, based on pollution index and NSF-WQI. Procedia Environ. Sci., 24: 228–237.
9. Fataei A., Hassanpour H., Salehzade G., Gholizadeh S., and Mehrvarz M. 2010. Assessment and classification of Aji-Chay river using water quality index (WQI), National conference of water, clean water, Tehran. (In Persian with English abstract)
10. Kenner B.A., Clark H.F., and Kabler P.W. 1961. Fecal streptococci I. Cultivation and enumeration of streptococci in surface waters,” Appl. Microbiol., 9(1): 15–20.
11. Meftah Helghi M. 2011. Water quality zonation using different quality indicators, Case study: Atrak River, water and soil conservation, 18: 2. (In Persian)
12. Mohseni-Bandpey A., Majlesi M., and Kazempour A. 2014. Evaluation of Golgol river water quality in Ilam province based on the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI). Journal of Health in the Field 1(4): 1-7 (In Persian)
13. Nikoonahad A., Moazed H., and Kazembeigi F. 2010. Comparing Inices for Selecting the Best Index for Karkheh Dam. Water Resourses Res., 3(4): 69–73. (In Persian)
14. Parastar S., Poureshgh B., Dargahhi A., Poreshgh Y., and Vosoughi M. 2013. Quality assessment of Hiroo River by NSFWQI and WILCOX indices in Khalkhal. Health Journal 4(3): 273-283. (In Persian with English abstract)
15. Rice E.W., Bridgewater L., Association A.P.H., Association A.W.W., and Federation W.E. 2012. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Public Health Association.
16. Rezaei M., Ganjkhani M., and Saatsaz M. 2016. Investigation of the impact of the lower red formation on groundwater quality using geo-electric methods in Almalochy valley, Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iranian geological society symposium, Tehran, 2016. (In Persian)
17. Shamsaei A., Zareh S.O., and Sarang A. 2004. The comparison of water indices and zoning quality in karoon and Dez rivers. Water Wastewater, 16(3): 39–48. (In Persian with English abstract)
18. Shokuhi R., Hosinzadeh E., Roshanaei G., Alipour M., and Hoseinzadeh S. 2012. Evaluation of Aydughmush Dam reservoir water quality by National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSF-WQI) and water quality parameter changes. Health and Environmental 4: 439-450 (In Persian)
19. Sharifdini N.G., Amirnezhad R., and Saeb K. 2014. Qualification zoning of the Dohezar River according to NSFWQI and using GIS. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci. 24:118:29-39. (In Persian with English abstract)
20. Samadi J. 2015. Survey of spatial-temporal impact of quantitative and qualitative of land use wastewaters on Choghakhor Wetland pollution using IRWQI Index and statistical methods. Iranian Water Resources Research 11(3): 159–171. (In Persian)
21. Sadeghi M., Bay A., Bay N., Soflaie N., Mehdinejad M.H., and Mallah M. 2015. The survey of Zarin-Gol River water quality in Golestan Province using NSF-WQI and IRWQISC. Journal of Health in the Field 3:3:27-33. (In Persian)
22. Sharma D., and Kansal A. 2011 Water quality analysis of River Yamuna using water quality index in the national capital territory, India (2000–2009). Appl. water Sci., 1:3–4:147–157.
23. Sharma P., Meher P.K., Kumar A., Gautam Y.P., and Mishra K.P. 2014. Changes in water quality index of Ganges river at different locations in Allahabad. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol., 3: 67–76.
24. Todd D.K., and Mays L.W. 2005. Groundwater hydrology.
25. Teimoori A, Kaboli A., and Eslami A. 2013. Evaluation of quality and hydrochemistry of Chehel-Chay river, 8th conference of Iranian engineering geology society and environment. Mashahd. (In Persian)
26. Yekom Consulting Engineers. 2012. Groundwater studies in plains of East Azerbaijan Province, East Azerbayjan Regional Water Authority Report. (In Persian)