The effect of wastewater disposal on the water quality and phytoplankton in Erbil wastewater channel

In this study, phytoplankton density, chlorophyll-a, and selected physico- chemical parameters were investigated in Erbil wastewater channel. The surveys were carried out monthly from May 2003 to April 2004. Samplings were established on three sites from headwaters to the mouth. The results showed that pH was in alkaline side of neutrality, with significant differences (P 0.05) between sites 1 and 3. TSS concentration decreased from site 1 toward site 2 (mean value, 80.15 to 25.79 mg.l^- 1). A clear gradual increase in mineral content (TDS) observed from site one of the channel towards the mouthpart. Soluble reactive phosphate has a concentration maximum mean value reached 48.4 μg.l-1 which is recorded in site 2. A high positive relationship (P 0.01, r =0.449) obtained between phosphate concentration and phytoplankton density. The results of chlorophyll-a concentration were (mean values, 2.26, 3.88 and 2.42 μg.l^-1 respectively), showed the positive relationship (P 0.05, r =0.012) with phytoplankton density. The PCA produced three significant main components which represented by more than 64.5% of the total variance, namely, nutrients related to algal productivity; disposal wastewater and storm water runoff, in which explained by 31.29, 19.68 and 13.55% respectively of the total variance of water quality in polluted channel.