Hydrogeochemistry of drinking water samples from Sulaimani Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq: Implications for heavy metal pollution

Volume 27 , Issue 2 , December 2025 , Pages 65-85

Authors

Pshtiwan Tahir 1 ; Ibrahim Mohialdeen 2 ; Željka Fiket 3

1 University of Sulaimani, collage of science , department of earth science and petroleum

2 Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Sciences, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan region, Iraq

3 Ruđr Bošković Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

DOI logo 10.17656/sujpas.1034

Keywords

Abstract

The contamination of drinking water with heavy metals has emerged as a significant concern in this century. This research evaluates the risk of heavy metal contamination in drinking water throughout the Sulaimani Governorate. A total of 24 drinking water samples were collected from different drinking water sources. The elemental and isotopic composition was analyzed using ICP-MS, Agilent 8900, together with the XD7500 UV-Vis Water Quality Spectrophotometer and the L2130-i isotopic water analyzer. Concentrations of 30 elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, S, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Te, Tl, V, W, and Zn) were quantified. The pH values ranged from 7.12 to 8.09, TDS varied between 122 and 503 mg/L, and total hardness was between 10 and 38 mg/L. The stable isotopes (¹⁸O and ²H) of drinking water samples imply a meteoric water origin. The average concentrations (in μg/L) of metals and metalloids in drinking water samples were organized in decreasing order: Zn > Ba > Li > V > Mn > Mo > Cr > As > Se > Cu > Ni > Sb > Co > Pb > Sn > W > Tl > Cs > Te > Bi > Cd. Using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), this research found that several drinking water sources in Sulaimani province were slightly contaminated with heavy metals according to Iraqi standards. The analysis suggests that anthropogenic activities, in addition to their natural geological background, may influence certain elements.

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  • First online25 December 2025
  • Published at25 December 2025

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