Abstract

Background: The Al-Najaf Governorate (central Iraq) is experiencing increasing stressors on water resources, due to the rise of population, expansion of irrigation, and reduction of the Euphrates flow, as well as climate changes. Salinization, enrichment of nutrients, and poor treatment of wastewater pose threats to the drinking water and agricultural water. Purpose: The research offers a broad environmental analysis of surface and groundwater in the city of Al-Najaf, the key sources of contamination, the spatial distribution of salinity and water quality by means of the GIS analysis, and the recommendations on the specific managerial measures. Approaches: We have synthesized published data (20192025) and came up with representative sample points of 40 wells and 6 points of surface water representations in the literature and computed water-quality indices (EC, TDS, NO3, WQI) and GIS interpolations (IDW) of EC, TDS, and WQI. It was compared to WHO and FAO standards. Findings: EC values were found to be within a range of about one thousand and five hundred to more than four thousand and five hundred μS/cm (median two thousand five hundred and ten), and TDS was in the range of about eight hundred and fifty to over three thousand and five hundred mg/L. WQI mapping indicates that there are only thin strips around the Euphrates that comply with the good thresholds; most of the aquifers have poor or very poor values. Inferences: Salinization and spent nutrient contamination of groundwater is rampant. It is suggested to use integrated monitoring, specific desalination/blending, enhanced wastewater treatment, and modernization of irrigation.