Diatom Indices Used To Assess Water Quality For Al-Rumeytha River Water /Iraq

Abstract

Background: The present research used diatoms as bioindicators to evaluate Al-Rumeytha River water quality in Al-Muthanna Governorate at three locations. The research ran from Autumn 2022 until Summer 2023. The quality of water was evaluated utilizing “Generic Diatom Index, Pollution sensitivity and Trophic Diatom” Index and physicochemical parameters.

Results: Based on diatom indices, the Geometric Diversity Index (GDI) varied from 9.25 in site 1 to 17.38 in site 3, indicating moderate river pollution. The Pollution Sensitivity Index (IPS) varied from 6.15 in site 2 to 16.89 in site 3, suggesting moderate to severe river pollution. The Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) varies from (27.14) at site 2 to (83.63) at site 3.

Conclusions: Indicating that the river is oligotrophic to hypertrophic and that higher proof values indicate poor water quality. Water had few additives and was low-quality, indicating river water quality. Based on the results above, water quality was found to be in the range of oligotrophic to hypertrophic according to (TDI), moderate to good according to (GDI) index, and the assumption that the higher the confirmatory characteristics showed that the quality of water was low contaminated and suitable to be lived in. The lack of significant improvements in water quality and the presence of negative qualities indicate a deterioration in the overall water quality of a river.