Assessment of Aji-Chay River Pollution in Tabriz Plain Area Using Water Quality Indices

The water is the major key in sustainable development, so it is necessary to be managed and conserved. The quality of surface water resources is mainly controlled by natural or geogenic factors including chemistry of recharge water, soil and geology processes, as well as the man-made contaminant. Qualitative indicators are used as effective managing tools in decision making programs. Water quality indices (WQI) are the simple and suitable tools to determine the quality statue of the water. In order to calculate the water quality index, many parameters are integrated in mathematical formula to represent the quality condition of the water with a number which classifies the quality in the scales of the weak to excellent. Many water quality indices were introduced by researchers and organizations around the world. Aji-Chay, one of the most important flowing rivers in East-Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran, is passing through Tabriz plain in its way and finally ends to the Uremia lake. Regarding the focused industrial zones, agricultural field and urban areas in this plain, the river is highly vulnerable to pollution and quality degradation. So, this study was aimed to assess the Aji-chay River based on quality indicators, in order to helps its better management. In this research for assessing pollution of the Aji-Chay river using water quality indices, 16 sampling stations were located along the river and water samples were collected during wet (May 2016) and dry (September 2016) seasons. Electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were measured in the field and total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, major ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, Cl, SO4), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological contaminants (fecal coliform) were determined in the laboratory. Quality indicators including the US national sanitary foundation water quality indices in the two forms of multiplicative (NSFWQIm) and additive (NSFWQIa) and Iranian surface water quality index (IRWQIsc) were used to assess the quality of the Aji-Chay river. Turbidity and Electrical conductivity (EC) is high at the upstream which is related to movement of the River in upper red formation (Miocene series) which enhances the chloride, sodium, calcium and sulfate. Arsenic concentrations are exceeding the drinking standards (0.01 ppm) across all samples mainly from a geogenic sources as well as discharge of wastewater in some areas. The elements Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Mo, Co, Zn, Fe and Al are mainly geogenic, whereas Cu, Ba and Cr are mostly originated from anthropogenic activities. Based on the results, river quality at the wet season is highly controlled by the main branch and Gomnab-Chay, but Mehran-rood plays the major role in downstream water quality at the dry season due to its higher discharge rate. The process was confirmed by Piper and Schoeller diagrams. Most of the parameters are increased in middle parts at the river where the concentrated sources of contaminates and discharge of wastewater increased the organic and biological constituents and nutrients especially in dry season. Assessing the river quality for agricultural uses based on modified Wilcox diagram shows except for Mehran-rood, the other samples are unsuitable for agriculture and the dry season quality is better than the wet season. Based on the results, increase in most parameters and so, pollution and quality degradation of the river are observed to the downstream. Assessing quality of the Aji-Chay river using US national sanitary foundation water quality indices in the two forms of multiplicative (NSFWQIm) and additive (NSFWQIa) and Iranian surface water quality index (IRWQIsc) confirmed the bad to very bad qualitative statue of the river in most stations especially in the middle parts of the Tabriz plain. The results revealed that quality degradation of Aji-Chay river is probably due to discharge of contaminants from municipal and industrial wastewaters (effluents), highlighting the need for managing actions to improve quality of this important river. Comparing the quality indices showed the priority of NSFWQIm (multiplicative form of US national sanitary foundation water quality indices) in quality classification and pollution assessment of the Aji-Chay river. Quality degradation of Aji-Chay river is probably due to discharge of contaminants from municipal and industrial wastewater effluents, indicating the need for managing actions to improve quality of this river. In this study priority of NSFWQIm (multiplicative form of US national sanitary foundation water quality indices) in quality classification and pollution assessment of the Aji-Chay river was confirmed.