Evaluation of spring water quality for drinking purpose within Brawary Shere District, Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan of Iraq

In this study, monthly samples were collected from the ten sources (S1÷S10) during August 2022÷March 2023. This article presents the assessment of spring water quality to determine its suitability for drinking, as it is consumed directly, without treatment. Our objective was to assess the spring water quality of Barwary village district and to determine water quality index and its criteria. Eighty water samples were collected and examined for a range of physical-chemical characteristics, including electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total hardness, and various ions, following standard analytical procedures established by the American Public Health Association (APHA). The analytical results were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water limits. The results indicated contamination at several sampling locations, primarily due to elevated concentrations of zinc and lead. Other heavy metals, such as copper and iron, were detected at levels indicative of mild contamination. The final analysis classified the sampled locations into four main categories. According to the water quality classification, Site S4 (Jmanke) exhibited excellent water quality. Sites S2 and S6÷S8, together with Site S10, were classified as good, whereas Site S9 fell into the poor category. Sites S1 and S3 were categorized as very poor, while Site S5 was unsuitable for drinking purposes. Lead removal treatment should be implemented at all sites, as the WHO guideline value of 10 µg/L is exceeded at every location.