Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-0952-6

REVIEW ARTICLE

Groundwater system of Dibdibba sandstone aquifer in south of Iraq

Hussein Ilaibi Zamil Al‑Sudani1

Received: 20 October 2018 / Accepted: 12 April 2019 / Published online: 25 April 2019
© The Author(s) 2019

Abstract
The main aim of groundwater studies is to assess the physical and chemical characterizations of water-bearing layers. The
study area has been chosen to be in south of Iraq within Basrah governorate. Depending on 86 wells, the aquifer has been
formed by Dibdibba formation in the west while both Dibdibba and alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin in the east and north-
eastern part of the area. The aquifer has been investigated during field work where geographical position, elevations, static
water levels, depths, thicknesses, maximum yields as well as water sampling were carried out. Depending on hydrogeologi-
cal and hydrochemical properties of the aquifer, the promising zone of useful exploration of groundwater has been located
to be the west of Zubair and Safwan towns. Physicochemical analysis of groundwater aquifer is a brackish to saline water.
Groundwater quality of aquifer is not recommended to be used for human and irrigation purposes, even so the farmers have
been using this water for irrigation and animal purposes depending on soil nature and plants.

Keywords Groundwater system · Hydrogeology and hydrochemistry · Dibdibba formation · South of Iraq

Introduction of water is essential for assessing its suitability for various

More than a third of all water used worldwide by humans
comes from groundwater. In rural areas, the percentage is
even higher: more than half of all drinking water worldwide
supplied from groundwater (Harter 2015). Scarcity of avail-
able surface water resources as well as its quality deteriora-
tion were the main reasons towards water exploitation of
groundwater basins in order to exploit this resource opti-
mally and maintain the strategic storage of these resources
(Al-Sudani 2017). Estimating the physical properties of
water-bearing layers is an essential part of groundwater
studies, where continuing of groundwater extraction from
the aquifers for all purposes is contributing to groundwa-
ter depletion in many parts of the world (Al-Sudani 2017;
Ramesh and Fritz 2016). One of the most effective ways
of determining physical properties is to conduct and ana-
lyse changing with time, and water levels (or total heads)
of aquifers caused by withdrawals through wells (Delleur
2000). Determination of physical and chemical parameters
* Hussein Ilaibi Zamil Al‑Sudani
dr.hussein_alsudani@yahoo.com;
150098@uotechnology.edu.iq
1
Petroleum Technology Department, University
of Technology-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
purposes. Generally, the groundwater quality depends on
the composition of recharge water, the interaction between
the water and the soil, the soil–gas interaction, the rock with
which it comes into contact in the unsaturated zone, the resi-
dence time and reactions that take place within the aquifer
(Fetter 2000).
The study area is located at the extreme part of south
of Iraq within Basrah governorate, bounded by latitudes
(29°45′–30°45′) and longitudes (46°35′–48°00′), see Fig. 1.
The main goal of this research is the assessment and find-
ing the physical and chemical characterizations of Dibdibba
aquifer depending on hydrogeological investigation carried
out in south of Iraq, where thousands of groundwater wells
extracting water within the aquifer have been used for live-
stocks and for irrigating salt-tolerant crops.
The area has arid-to-semiarid climate. The climatic data
for the years (1950–2000) are as follows: the mean annual
temperature is around 24; the mean annual relative humidity
ranges from 50 to 55%; the dryness index ranges from 15 to
20; the mean annual amount of evaporation is 2500 mm; and
the mean annual rainfall is around 150 mm (Iraqi General
Organization for Meteorological Information 2010).
The work plan in the studied area included the office
work where preparing data and preliminary information
of the area (wells stratigraphic columns, maps, literature

13
Vol.:(0123456789)
72 Page 2 of 11 Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

r ia
Sh

Sy
ut
Hammar

A
30 45
Marsh

la
Iran

rab
Baghdad

R
iv
er
Sa
Basrah ud
39 iA
ra
bi a Area of Study
30 30 61
29 8 28
5 10
68 62 0 100 200 300 Km
31 30 7
67 22
40 5926
6 70 66 24
47 City and Twon
49 35 63 Zubair
82 73 27 64
15 80 57
85 45 5825 Well No.
81 46 4 72 1
5244 4217 78 16 Marsh Land
51 77
11 56 60 12 River
30 15 43 65 2
14 International
Border
3 953 Elevation Gradient
83 84 C.I.= 5 m.a.s.l.
33 54 55
34 41 Safwan
85
76 69 32 Topographic
71 18 20 80

38 74 13 50 1921 37 23 75
60
86 75 70
79 Isocontour line
48 36
65

Kuwait
60
30 00 55 Wells utilized for
50 (1 and 5) Human Purposes
45
40
Wells utilized for
35 31
30 Irrigation Purposes
25
20
15
Km 10
0 20 40 60
5
29 45 0
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00 -5

Fig. 1  Topographic and groundwater wells location map in studied area

reviews, scientific references, hydrogeological data bank…)
is included. The fieldwork has included three major items,
inventory of water wells and measuring water levels in the
wells as well as finding geographical positions and levels
of 86 water points, sampling of 86 wells during 2015 and
finally laboratory analysis of 86 water samples to measure
physical and chemical components and variation of ionic
concentrations.
7. Hydrochemical classification of groundwater in Safwan–
Al-Zubair area, south of Iraq (Al-Aboodi et al. 2008).
8. Uranium in groundwater of the Al-Batin alluvial fan
aquifer, south of Iraq (Al-kinani et al. 2016).
9. Groundwater investigation in Iraqi Marshland area (Al-
Sudani 2017).
Geological setting

Previous studies
Several earlier studies were done within the region as men-
tioned below; generally, these studies were addressing local
area of Safwan–Zubair except one:
1. Hydraulic properties of Dibdibba sandstone using pump-
ing tests data in large diameter wells (Al-Jawad et al.
1989).
2. Hydrogeology of Dibdibba aquifer in Safwan–Zubair
area, south of Iraq (Al-Kubaisi 1996).
3. Quaternary–tertiary hydrogeologic boundary condition
at Safwan–Zubair area, south of Iraq (Al-Kubaisi 1999).
4. Hydrogeology of Safwan–Zubair area, south of Iraq
(Atiaa 2000).
5. Hydrogeology of aquifers in the Western Desert—west
and south of Euphrates River (Al-Sudani et al. 2001).
6. Management of groundwater resources of Dibdibba
sandy aquifer in Safwan–Zubair area, south of Iraq
(Atiaa and Al-Asadiy 2007).
The map area lies within the Zubair tectonic sub-zone
which is the southernmost part of the Mesopotamian Zone
of Unstable Shelf. Its southwestern cover lies within the Sal-
man Zone of the Stable Shelf. Most of the structures in the
map area have no surface expression; however, Jabal Sanam
is the only visible structure which is the unique domed struc-
ture penetrated in AL-Batin fan sediments (Yacoub 1992).
• Rock sequence of Jabal Sanam: represented by two
units, the gypsum unit with 80 m and limestone unit of
18 m thickness.
• Dibdibba formation (Pliocene–Pleistocene): the sur-
face exposures of formation do not exceed few metres
(3.8 m) and partly exposed on the eastern and southern
side of Jabal Sanam. The formation occupies an exten-
sive flat and slightly wavy terrain, on the western part of
the area characterized by pebbly, medium to coarse sand
and sandstones with calcareous cement. The rock types
show that the formation is of fluvial origin.
• Quaternary Deposits (Pleistocene–Holocene)

13
Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72
• Alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin (Pleistocene): the
area includes the major part of the vast Wadi AL-
Batin alluvial fan, which extended from Hafer AL-
Batin (outside the area) and reaches the southern
margin of Hor AL-Hammar, in the north with maxi-
mum depth up to 10 m. The Al-Batin alluvial fan
composes of gravelly sand and sandy gravels.
• Estuarine Sabkha deposits (Holocene): the estuarine
Sabkhas between Shatt Al-Arab and Khor AL-Zubair
are supratidal surfaces produced mostly by seaward
prorogation of coastline. The deposits consist of silty
clay.
• The Tidal flat deposits (Holocene): the tidal flat
extended from AL-Fao, in the east and westwards
to Um-Qasr and then northwards along both sides
of Khor Al-Zubair. The characteristic feature of the
tidal flat, at the upper reaches of Khor AL-Zubair,
is the dendritic distribution of gullies and channels
(creeks).
• Flood plain deposits (Holocene): the Tigris and
Euphrates flood plains represent the major deposi-
tional element of the Mesopotamian fluvial basin.
These flood plains end tell of Lacustrine delta con-
stituting the northern and western margins of the
marshes and lakes in southern part of Mesopotamian
plain.
• Sheet run-off deposits (Holocene): the sheet run-off
deposits form a narrow strip along the eastern margin
of Wadi AL-Batin fan. The deposits often include
aeolian admixture and sometimes marine sediments
(mud), brought by tidal action.
• Marsh and lake deposits (Holocene): the marsh
sub-environment differs from other Lacustrine sub-
environments by dense concentration of marsh veg-
etation, which is invariably grading rapidly down
into light greenish grey or bluish grey mud, rich in
mollusc shells.
• Aeolian deposits (Holocene): it consists, generally,
of fine-to-medium grained sand with minor fractions
of silt and clay, see Fig. 2 (Yacoub 1992).
Materials
The materials used in this research were:
• Topographic and geological maps of area with different
map scales.
• GPS device to determine wells locations and elevations
as well as other hydrogeological properties.
• Stratigraphic sheets and hydrogeological data bank (Gen-
eral Commission of Groundwater 2015).
Page 3 of 11 72
• Grapher and surfer programs demonstrating graphs and
contour maps.
Methodology
The geographical position, elevations, static water levels,
depths, thicknesses, maximum yields as well as water sam-
pling have been carried out during field work. Comparing
the stratigraphic sheets of 84 inventoried drilled wells with
water levels measured in these wells taking into considera-
tion the geological setting and cross section of studied area
and all information obtained from several earlier studies,
the aquifer is classified as unconfined of Dibdibba forma-
tion and alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin quaternary deposits
(Al-Sudani et al. 2001). Hydrochemical properties of water
samples such as pH, electric conductivity (EC) and major
cations and anions were measured and analysed by standard
methods (APHA 2005).
Rustles and discussion
Hydrogeological properties of aquifer
The 86 drilled wells shown in Fig. 1 indicate that Dibdibba
formation and alluvial fan form the water-bearing layer to
the east and northeastern part of studied area, while only
Dibdibba formation forms aquifer in the west and southwest-
ern part (Al-Sudani et al. 2001; Al-Sudani 2017). Table 1
shows hydrogeological properties of the aquifer.
Based on earlier studies, the aquifer is classified as uncon-
fined to semi-confined where a hard clay stone layer called
Jojab separates aquifer layers with different hydraulic con-
ductivity values as in Fig. 3. The upper part of Dibdibba
formation is the most productive units consisting of sands
and gravels. The transmissivity of the aquifer was generally
greater than 300 m2/d, and the saturated thickness of this
layer extended from 15 to 20 m with an average of 17.5 m,
while the thickness of the unsaturated zone was 4–130 m
(Al-Jawad et al. 1989; Al-Kubaisi 1996, 1999; Atiaa 2000).
The results obtained from this research were almost the same
with transmissivity ranged between 15 and 685 m2/day and
mean saturated thickness of 16.44 m. The aquifer inves-
tigated in this research depending on wells depth was not
exceeding 110 m which means the wells did not penetrate
Jojab claystone.
Thickness of the aquifer is shown in Fig. 4 where increas-
ing values reaching 55 m in the west of area due to increas-
ing thickness of Dibdibba formation. The thickness of satu-
rated aquifer in the eastern and northeastern part of the area
ranged between 15 and 20 m, where aquifer consists of both
Dibdibba and Quaternary deposits of alluvial fan. Depths of
13
72 Page 4 of 11 Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

m m
Q f

Sh
Q Q

ut
f Hammar

A
30 45 Marsh

la
Q

ra
b
f

R
iv
m

er
Q
a Q Basrah
d
Q Pli-Ple
30 25 Zubair
e
af Q
Q
tf
d
Q
Eoc e
Q
Safwan

30 00
Kuwait
d d
Eoc Pli-Ple
af
Q
29 45

ri a
Sy
Iran
Baghdad

29 25

d Sa
Pli-Ple ud
d iA
Eoc s ra
bi a Area of Study
Q

0 20 40 Km 0 100 200 300 Km

29 05

45 15 45 30 45 45 46 00 46 15 46 30 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00

a Aeolian Deposits e Estuarine Sabkha Deposits

Q (undifferentiated) Q (Silty mud with Salt) Well location

Marsh Deposits (Active and Dry) af Alluvial Fan Deposits City and Twon
m
Q (Clay , silt and organic Mud) Q (Sand and Gravels)
Marsh Land
s Sheet run off Deposits Dibdibba Formation
d
Q (Loose Sand) (Pebbly Sandstone)
Pli-Ple River
f Flood plain Deposits Dammam Formation International
d
Q (Sand, Silt and Clay) Eoc (Dolometic , silicified limestone) border

tf Tidal Flat Deposits j Jabal Sanam rocksequence

Q (Mud) H (Hurmuz series) (Limestone and Gypsum)

Fig. 2  Geological map of the area (Yacoub 1992) modified by author

Table 1  Statistical data show hydrogeological properties of aquifer

Statistics Elevation (m) Static Water Dynamic Total depth Thickness (m) Maximum Spec. capac- Transmis-
w. level table water level (m) yield (m*3/ ity (m*2/ sivity (m*2/
(m) (m.a.s.l.) (m) day) day) day)

Number of 86 84 84 82 85 83 85 81 81
values
Minimum 4 2 −6 4 16 7.5 138 14 15
Maximum 88 71 80.2 80 110 63 1683 990 658
Mean 20.33 13.78 6.08 17.65 30.17 16.44 530.42 213.8 224.1
Standard 15.22 10.77 11.84 12.82 14.62 6.39 206.08 147.7 134.6
deviation

drilled wells in this area ranged between 16 and 50 m which of the area towards east and northeast. The main reason
affects on aquifer saturated thickness. that transmissivity coefficient decreases while saturated
Figure 5 shows transmissivity contour map of the aqui- thickness increases in the western part of the area is due
fer where this value increased gradually from west side to rising Dibdibba formation thickness, that is, calcareous

13
Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72 Page 5 of 11 72

Fig. 3  Prototype of aquifer

system in the study area modi-
fied after (Al-Jawad et al. 1989;
Al-Kubaisi 1999)

r ia
Sh

Sy
ut
Hammar

A
30 45
Marsh

la
Iran

r ab
Baghdad

R
iv
er
Sa
Basrah ud
iA
ra
bi a Area of Study
30 30
0 100 200 300 Km

City and Twon

Zubair
Well No.
Marsh Land
River
30 15
International
Border
Thickness Gradient
Safwan
60 C.I.= 5 m.
55
Thickness Isocontour
50
25
30 00 Kuwait 45
40
Line (m.)

35
30
25
20
15
0 20 40 60 Km
10
29 45
5
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00

Fig. 4  Saturated thickness contour map of aquifer

cement composing the lithology of Dibdibba formation
with sand and sandstones. This cement adversely affects
on permeability which is the most significant rock proper-
ties of groundwater movement velocity. On the other hand,
the transmissivity increases towards east and northeast-
ern part of the area while saturated thickness is at it least
values. The gravelly sand and sandy gravels composing
alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin deposits with limited wells
depth penetrating Dibdibba formation in this area are the
main reason behind increasing this value.
Maximum yields depend on transmissibility of lithol-
ogy of water-bearing and groundwater flow direction (Fet-
ter 2000). The maximum yield (well discharge) of 85 wells
ranged between 138 and 1683 m3/day, and mean well dis-
charge was 530 m3/day. Maximum yields contour map is
demonstrated in Fig. 6 where it increases gradually from
west side of the area towards east and northeastern direc-
tion. It seems that maximum yield distribution has the same
distribution as transmissivity. The hydrogeological proper-
ties of this aquifer indicate that saturated thickness was the

13
72 Page 6 of 11 Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

ria
Sh

Sy
ut
Hammar

A
30 45
Marsh

la
Iran

ra
Baghdad

b
R
iv
er
Sa
Basrah ud
iA
ra
bia Area of Study
30 30
0 100 200 300 Km

Zubair City and Twon

Well No.
Marsh Land
River
30 15
International
Border
Transmissivity Gradient

600
C.I.= 75 m 2 /Day
Permeability Isocontour
Safwan 525
300
30 00 Kuwait 450 Line (m2 /Day)
375

300

225

150

0 20 40 60 Km 75
29 45
0
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00

Fig. 5  Transmissivity contour map of aquifer

ria
Sh

Sy
ut

Hammar
A

30 45
Marsh
la

Iran
ra

Baghdad
b
R
iv
er

Sa
Basrah ud
iA
ra
bia Area of Study
30 30
0 100 200 300 Km

Zubair City and Twon

Well No.
Marsh Land
River
30 15
International
Border
Maximum Yield Gradient
Safwan 1600 C.I.= 150 m 3 /Day
1450
Maximum Yield Isocontour
1300
400
30 00 Kuwait 1150

1000
Line (m 3/Day)

850

700

550

400

250
0 20 40 60 Km
100
29 45 0
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00

Fig. 6  Maximum yield contour map of the aquifer

lowest values in east and northeastern part of area while before, the aquifer was mainly formed by quaternary depos-
transmissibility and maximum yields were the highest val- its and Dibdibba formation where its lithology differences
ues with the assembly of groundwater flow. As mentioned were the main causes of maximum yields increasing.

13
Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72 Page 7 of 11 72

The groundwater movement depends on hydraulic heads
in aquifer as well as dipping and inclination of water-bear-
ing strata (Al-Sudani 2018). The influence of topography
in the eastern part of the area and aquifer layers dipping
with hydraulic pressure in the western part were the major
causes of groundwater movement in this aquifer as shown
in Fig. 7. The water table (groundwater flow direction) map
has a radial flow from southern area towards west, north,
east and northeastern directions.
high salinity continuously and widely to irrigate crops in
the area. This recurrence process led to concentrating ions
within porous media where irrigated water percolates and
infiltrates deep to saturated zone with fertilizers used for
agriculture. The arid-to-semiarid climate condition of the
area is another reason of increasing salinity in groundwater
as mean annual rainfall around 150 mm was not sufficient to
enhance groundwater quality by groundwater recharge and
dilution (Al-Sudani 2017; Al-Sudani 2018).

Distribution of groundwater salinity within area

Hydrochemical properties of aquifer
Groundwater Chemistry
The statistical data of hydrochemical groundwater samples
are shown in Table 2. The ranges of pH, electrical conductiv-
ity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) represented as least
and greatest were 6.9 to 8.9 and 1550 to 25,799 µmhos/cm,
500 to 21,688 mg/l omit. These values indicate that ground-
water is brackish to saline types where TDS > 1000 mg/l
(Sinivas and Nageswarara 2013).
Although the lithology of aquifer is continental deposi-
tional environments, the high values of total dissolved solids
(TDS) as a result of high concentration of anions and cations
in groundwater are caused by using irrigation water with
Salinity as expressed in total dissolved salts (TDS) is the most
important factor in groundwater hydrochemical studies, where
salinity of the groundwater changes by site and time within the
hydrogeological basin and water depth in aquifer. The salinity
is the first element in determining the validity of groundwater
use for different purposes. The geological and topographical
conditions play an important role in changing salinity values
because of effects of geological formations exposures and
quality of water recharging the aquifer affected by topogra-
phy of the basin (Robinson and Ward 2017). Depending on
data in Table 2, the groundwater salinity distribution within
the area has been illustrated in Fig. 8 where salinity increased
towards east and northeastern part of the area to reflect a
regular increase in salinity concentrations due to groundwater

r ia
Sh

Sy
ut

Hammar
A

30 45
Marsh
la

Iran
r
ab

Baghdad
R
iv
er

Sa
Basrah ud
iA
ra
bi a Area of Study
30 30
0 100 200 300 Km

City and Twon

Zubair
Well No.
Marsh Land
River
30 15
International
Border
Water Table Gradient
65
60 C.I.= 5 m.a.s.l.
Safwan 55
50
Water Table Isocontour
45 30
30 00 Kuwait 40
35
line (m.a.s.l.)

30
25
20
15
10
5
0 20 40 60 Km 0
-5
29 45 -10
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00

Fig. 7  Groundwater flow map of the aquifer

13
72 Page 8 of 11 Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

flow direction under pressure. Rock sequence of Jabal Sanam

SAR

13.6
8.86
1.9
74

63
located near Safwan–Al-Zubair area which consists of gyp-
sum unit with 80 m and limestone unit of 18 m thickness
leads to increase in reaction between water-bearing layers and

NO3 (mg/l)
groundwater within the direction of flow. Long distance of
groundwater movement from southern part of the area towards

50.9
22.9
118
66
4
northern east reflects another factor in increasing salinity con-
centrations. Groundwater recharge area within specific area in
SO4 (mg/l)

western part, where Dibdibba formation exposed on surface,

locally reduces salinity concentrations as groundwater moves
79
170
6885
2381
1199
towards northern west as seen in Fig. 8.

Groundwater origin and quality

HCO3 (mg/l)

Sulin classification used to find water origin and quality of

129.4
70.2
599

groundwater in the area. Figure 9 shows the water origins

81
43

and types of groundwater samples according to Sulin clas-

sification (Bonton et al. 2010), where continental origin and
Cl (mg/l)

­Na2SO4 water type were recorded for all samples while only
73
104
9052
1761
1686

8 were marine origin and ­MgCl2 water types. The aquifer

in the area as mentioned before represented by Dibdibba
and alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin deposits with continental
Na (mg/l)

depositional environments as a typical condition of ground-

79
120
6210
1403
1053

water origin and type in this aquifer. The only 8 samples

represent marine origin caused by reaction and dissolution
of chemical components of rock sequence of Jabal Sanam
Mg (mg/l)

which consists of gypsum and limestone with groundwater

247.5

as it is moving from recharge area towards discharge area

2000
82
32

356
Table 2  Statistical data show hydrochemical properties of aquifer (Robinson and Ward 2017)

as shown in Fig. 7.

Groundwater utilization
Ca (mg/l)

83
75
1333
504
214

Table 3 shows groundwater utilization where only 2 wells

can be used for drinking purposes, while only one well is
useful for agriculture purposes (Fig. 1). Thirty wells are use-
TDS (mg/l)

ful for animal purposes, and 53 wells are non-useful for any
21,688
86
500

6534
3604

purposes due to high salinity concentration. However, the

nature of the soil in the area and the depth of the ground-
water qualified water for agriculture used in significant and
E.C. (µmoh/cm)

wide range due to quaternary deposits consist of gravelly

sand and sandy gravels which hold only 20% of the irriga-
tion water and it is irrigated daily to maintain the nutrients
25,799
81
1550

8467
4648

needed by the cultivated plants which bear the high concen-

trations of saline water while decrease in elevations helps
in accelerating the drainage process (Al-Sudani et al. 2001;
0.376

Al-Sudani 2017).
7.65
PH

6.9
8.9
41

Standard deviation

Conclusions
Number of values

1. The aquifer investigated in this research depends on

Maximum
Minimum
Statistics

depth of 86 wells indicating that Dibdibba formation

Mean

and alluvial fan of Wadi AL-Batin deposits forming the

13
Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72 Page 9 of 11 72

r ia
Sh

Sy
ut
Hammar

A
30 45
Marsh

la
Iran

ra
Baghdad

b
R
iv
e r
Sa
Basrah ud
iA
ra
bi a Area of Study
30 30
0 100 200 300 Km

Zubair City and Twon

Well No.
Marsh Land
River
30 15
International
Border
TDS Gradient

20000 C.I.= 2500 ppm

Safwan
17500 Salinity Isocontour
5000
Line (ppm)
Kuwait
15000
30 00
12500

10000

7500

5000
0 20 40 60 Km 2500
29 45
46 35 46 45 47 00 47 15 47 30 47 45 48 00 0

Fig. 8  Groundwater salinity distribution map of the aquifer

Fig. 9  Origins and types of CaCl 2

groundwater samples in study
area
75 A>1
Cl -(Na+K) Meq %

50

=1

2
Mg Cl
A 29

25 A<1
22
SO Meq %
4 34
4838
2
75

50

25

17 16
33 71 73 32
47 51 80 57 63
84 69 1876
13
64
59 8377
25

50

75
42 28
61
6231
14
1 58 67 353981 Mg Meq %
72 68
24
15 60 70
43 26
3 66 27 49 82 -25
5356 4574 4625
36 50 52
44 75
(Na+K)-Cl Meq %

20 78
B<1
54 55
79
Na2 SO4

19
41
1

-50
=
B

21

B>1
-75

NaHCO 3

water-bearing layer to the east and northeastern part
of studied area, while only Dibdibba formation forms
aquifer in the west and southwestern part. The depth of
aquifer was not exceeding 110 m which means wells did
not penetrate Jojab claystone.
2. Depending on hydrogeological and hydrochemical prop-
erties of the aquifer, the promising zone of useful explo-
ration of groundwater is located to the west of Zubair
and Safwan towns. Depth, thickness, maximum yield
and transmissivity as well as groundwater flow direc-

13
72 Page 10 of 11 Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72

tion have qualified this area to being promising zone

Irrigation purposes

Animal purposes
Human purposes
although groundwater quality is highly concentrated.
E.C. (µmoh/cm) TDS (mg/l) Ca (mg/l) Mg (mg/l) Na (mg/l) Cl (mg/l) HCO3 (mg/l) SO4 (mg/l) NO3 (mg/l) SAR No. of suitability Utilization 3. Physicochemical analysis of groundwater aquifer is
brackish to saline water.
4. The typical condition of continental origin and
(Na2SO4) water type were recorded for groundwater in
the area.
wells and names

5. Groundwater quality is not recommended to be used for

2 (1,5) human and irrigation purposes, even so the farmers have
been using this water for irrigation and animal purposes
1 (31)

30
depending on soil nature and plants.
1.9
74

63

15
–
–

–
Compliance with ethical standards
118

100
66

50
50
4

Conflict of interest The author declares that they have no conflicts of

interest.
6885
170

250
250

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative
79

20

Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecom-

mons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribu-
tion, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate
credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the
Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
599
200
200
81

43

10

–
73

9052

References
104

250
250
30

Al-Aboodi AH, Al-Tai MA, Al-Khadhimi AM (2008) Hydrochemical

classification of groundwater in Safwan-Al-Zubair area. South of
6210
120

200
200
79

20

Iraq. Marsh Bulletin 3(1):45–56

–

Al-Jawad SA, Ayob MS, Khalil S, Al-Radi NH (1989) Hydraulic prop-

erties of Dibdibba sandstone using pumping tests data in large
diameter wells. In: Proceedings of the 5th Science, Conference
82

32
2000
125
50
5

250

on SRC, Iraq. 3(3):133–146

Al-kinani M, Kanoua W, Merkel B (2016) Uranium in groundwater
of the Al-Batin Alluvial Fan aquifer, south Iraq: Environ Earth
Sciences, vol 75. Springer, Berlin, p 869
1333
83

75

75
50
40

Al-Kubaisi QY (1996) Hydrogeology of Dibdibba aquifer in Safwan-

–

Zubair area, south of Iraq. Unpub. Ph. D. Thesis, College of Sci-

ence, University of Baghdad, p 173 (in Arabic)
Al-Kubaisi Q (1999) Quaternary-Tertiary hydrogeologic boundary con-
21,688
1000
1000
2000

dition at Safwan-Zubair area. South of Iraq Iraq J Sci. 40(3):21–28

500
86

Al-Sudani HIZ (2017a) Hydrogeological study of Khan Al-Baghdadi

area in Anbar Governorate—West of Iraq. Diyala J Pure Sci
13(2):192–207
Table 3  Groundwater utilization standards

Al-Sudani HIZ (2017b) Hydraulic parameters of groundwater aquifers

in Khanaqin Basin. J Basrah Res Sci 34(1B):1–16
25,799
1550

5000

Al-Sudani HIZ (2017c) Groundwater investigation in Iraqi Marsh land

81

area. Diyala J Pure Sci 13(3):12–29

–
–
–

Al-Sudani HIZ (2018) Hydrogeological properties of groundwa-

6.5–8.5
6.5–8.5

ter in Karbala’a Governorate—Iraq. J Univ Babylon Eng Sci

PH

6.9
8.9
41

26(4):70–84
–

Al-Sudani HIZ, Jawad SB, Naom FH, Bashoo DY, Ali BM (2001)
(Ayers and West-

(Ayers and West-

FAO/1989 Poul-

Hydrogeology of aquifers in the western Desert—West and

try + Livestock
Number of sam-

South of Euphrates River. National Program of best use of water

WHO (2011)

FAO/1989
IQS (2001)

cot 1994)

cot 1994)

resources in Euphrates Basin. Axis IV, Ministry of Irrigation,

Maximum
Parameter

Minimum

Standard

Standard

Baghdad, Iraq, p 100

ples

13
Applied Water Science (2019) 9:72
APHA (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and
wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association,
Washington
Atiaa AM (2000) Hydrogeology of Safwan-Zubair area, south of Iraq.
Unpub. M. Sc. Thesis, College of Scaince, University of Basrah,
p 90
Atiaa AM, Al-Asadiy SA (2007) Management of Groundwater
resources of Dibdibba sandy aquifer in Safwan - Zubair area,
south of Iraq. J Coll Arts 42:30–49
Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1994) Water quality for agriculture, irriga-
tion and drainage paper, food and agriculture organization of the
United Nations, Rome. Italy. 29(1):174
Bonton A, Rouleau A, Bouchard C, Rodriguez MJ (2010) Assessment
of groundwater quality and its variations in the capture zone of a
pumping well in an agricultural area. AWM. 97:824–834
Delleur JW (ed) (2000). The handbook of groundwater engineering,
School of Civil Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette,
Indiana. Corporate Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
Fetter CW (2000) Applied hydrogeology, 4th edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper
Saddle River, PP, p 598
General Commission of Groundwater (2015) Geological and Hydroge-
ological information of Groundwater wells in Basrah Governorate.
Ministry of Water Resources. Baghdad, Iraq
Harter T (2015) Basic concepts of groundwater hydrology. ANR
Publication 8083, FWQP Reference Sheet 11.1, University of
California
Page 11 of 11 72
IQS: Drinking-Water Standard, 417 (2001) Central organization for
quality control and standardization, Council of Ministers, Repub-
lic of Iraq
Iraqi General Organization for Meteorological Information (2010)
Atlas of Climate of Iraq for the years (1950–2000). Internal
Report. Ministry of Transportation. Baghdad, Iraq
Ramesh D, Fritz F (2016) Water balance to recharge calculation:
implications for watershed management using systems dynamics
approach. J Hydrol 3(13):19p
Robinson M, Ward R (2017) Hydrology principles and processes. IWA
Publishing, London, p 400
Sinivas GR, Nageswarara G (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality
using water quality index. AES 7:1–5
WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edn. World
Health Organization, Geneva, p 541
Yacoub S (1992) The geology of Al-Basrah, Abadan and Bubyian
quadrangle sheets NH-38-8, NH-39-5 and NH-39-9 (GM 38,
39 and 43) Scale 1:250,000. Iraq-GEOSURV int. rep. no. 2259
(unpublished)
Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to
jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
13