Spatial and Temporal Variability Analyses of Water Quality in Jaghjagh River, Syria

Intensively used for irrigation, the Jaghjagh River in the northeastern region of Syria is polluted by municipal and industrial wastewaters. This study is aimed at assessing the spatial and temporal changes in the water quality of the Jaghjagh River in order to evaluate the existence of any potential impact of the water of the river used for irrigation and agriculture. Monthly water samples were collected regularly during the years 2012-2013 from three locations that are 2 km apart. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics. The results of the analysis showed that water quality parameters varied spatially and temporally. The spatial variation of the parameters was clearly shown at the location from 1 to 3, and the significant difference of SS, EC, TDS, CODcr, BOD5, PO43-, Cl- and NH4+ was obvious at location 3 compared to the values at locations 1 and 2, reaching the values of 56.6 mg/l, 744.0 μS/cm, 326.5 mg/l, 111.7 mg/l, 10.57mg/l, 99.4 mg/l and 22.17 mg/l respectively, while Nitrate demonstrated decreasing values at locations 1 to 3. Depending on the seasonal stream flow in winter (high rainfall) and summer (no rainfall), the temporal variation with significant difference was clearly recognized for the following parameters EC, TDS, PO43- . NH4+ and Cl- reached the values of 670.0 μS/cm, 329.4 mg/l, 9.30 mg/l, 4.22 mg/l and 15.0 mg/l respectively. So to improve the water quality of the Jaghjagh River, basin management and treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters are recommended. Moreover, further detailed studies of spatial and temporal modelling and prediction are required.