A study on the main sewage channel in Erbil city

Studying the water quality of Erbil waste water, and how much it match with the world criteria to irrigation purpose, during Spring 2007 to Winter 2008 , ten stations within and along the city wastewater channel were chosen , the first formation (Qalaa in the city centre) till the last gathering station to form the main channel in the southern west of the city (Areb qand).Important measurements were taking in consideration :T. coliform, TP, TN, BOD5, COD and TSS .The main results were : * The seasonal values followed certain rhythm which was; Summer > Spring > Winter . * Only for the reason of high number of T. cliform in the studies season except the winter season which was in low value, the wastewater in the main channel match to irrigation purpose only in Winter season. Introduction Any comprehensive wastewater monitoring for controlling pollution degree ,some important indicators must be taken in consideration like ; five days biochemical oxygen demand ( BOD5 ), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total coliform ,and total suspended solid (TSS).Because these are good indicators to the pollution degree of the wastewater which get municipal ,agricultural , and industrial discharge with high amounts of chemical pollutants such as N , P and C with high degree of oxygen demand,(chemical or biochemical) and biological by microbial pollutants such as faecal coliform. (Sonune & Gate, 2004; Sarioglu, 2005; Hussein, 2004; Henz et al., 2002; Viessman & Hammer,1996 and Upadhyay,2004). The area of Erbil city, which is about 150 square kilometers, according to WFP of Erbil sector (2002),the population of the city during that year was 589000an became 762,139 inhabitants in 2006 while it reaches 1491460 inhabitants in 2010.(Al-Naqshabandi,2002) . The necessity of water for different purposes of life has been doubled with progress development of Journal of Kirkuk University –Scientific Studies , vol.5, No.2,2010 62 technology and lifestyle in different areas. According to WFP of Erbil sector (2002) water requirement for domestic uses may reach to more than 320000 m 3 .d -1 , while water demand for agricultural and industrial uses was not estimated in Erbil city yet. The main source of water supply is the Greater Zab river (Ifraz project), in addition to more than 500 wells scattered within the city. Yet, Erbil city like many other cities in Iraq dose not have sewage treatment or pre treatment plant .So, this research is an attempt to understand Erbil’s wastewater destiny following its formation in the beginning in which mixing of many types of wastes; municipal, agriculture and industrial, till they gathered to form the main sewage channel in Twreq village, even after this point by several kilometers in (Areb qand village). And studying wastewater recovery by the action of so called self purification, then to compare these information with the world standards and how far it matching irrigation purposes, and as a result to establish database of Erbil’s waste water. Materials and Methods Description of the stations: Location of Areb qend ( station 10) is the north-western downtown by about 12 kilometers which is the final point, then discharged to Greater Zab river. The location of station (9) is in Tureq village which is a small village (about 50 small houses) , it is about 10 kilometers far from the city centre, and it collect only the villages wastewater and discharged it to the main pathway. Station (8) is about one kilometer above station (7).Station (7) is the gathering point branches and the formation of the main sewage pathway, it is about 9 kilometers down the city centre, Station (6) is collecting waste waters from (Alaskary quarter) and discharged to the main channel ,located just few meters before station 7. Station (5)is the main channel in the (Sailo quarter) and it is(5)kilometers down the city centre. Station (4) is the branch which collects the sewages from the previous station. Station (3), is the branch which collects the wastewater from the southern industry area located in south east of the city centre by (5) kilometers. Station (2) , is the (Runaky quarter) sewage branch , away from the city centre by (1.5) kilometers. Station (1) is the central of Erbil city (Qalaa quarter), it is the start point of the study and the highest elevation point of the city. (Figure, 1 shows the city and the studied stations allocation on Iraq satellite map). Journal of Kirkuk University –Scientific Studies , vol.5, No.2,2010