Abstract
Water Quality Index has been used in the present study to evaluate suitability of groundwater quality for
drinking purposes in Saqlawiyah city and surrounded area, Al anbar, Iraq . This was carried out by subjecting
twelve grouldwater samples, collected from twelve selected site, to comprehensive physico-chemical analysis .
WQI technique requires several parameters to satisry the calculations . These parameters include physical and
chemical characteristics of groundwater sampling such as: pH, total hardness, total dissolved solids, calcium,
magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate and sulphate. The computed WQI shows that two wells (l l, 12) fall in
class tI (good water) while seven well (3,4,6,7,8,9,10,) fall in class III (poor water) and three wells ( I,2,5) fall in
class IV (very poor water) . The high value of WQI has been found to be mainly due to the higher values of
TDS, Cat2, Mg*2, Na*, Cl', SOa-'?and Nor'r where it was found that ther€ is a very high correlation coefficient
between them. Such waters are not suitable for drinking purposes under normal condition and further action for
salinity control is required .
K€y words : Water quality Index, Drinking water, Saqlawiyah city, Al-anbar, lraq . |