Environmental Earth Sciences | 2019
Chemical assessment of surface water quality in upstream and downstream of Jare Dam, Khuzestan, Iran
Abstract
Management of water resources is an important issue for better use of water. In this study surface water quality in two stations, located upstream and downstream of Jare Dam in Zard River, was investigated. Water quality was assessed 5\xa0years before and after constructing the dam by using principal component analysis (PCA). To realize the influence of precipitation on water surface quality, standard precipitation index was measured. To conduct this study, water quality parameters including HCO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42−, Cl−, EC, TDS and pH were measured during year 2008–2017. The results of PCA show that before constructing the dam at the upstream of the dam the Ca2+, Cl−, HCO3−, Mg2+ and SO42− at the downstream of the dam, Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42− are proportional to principal component 1. EC and HCO3− at the downstream, K+ at upstream are proportional to principal component 2. After constructing the Jare Dam, at the upstream Ca2+ and Cl− and at the downstream the HCO3− and Na+ are proportional to principal component 1. SO42− at the upstream and at downstream Mg2+ and pH are proportional to principal component 2. After constructing the dam, less drought enhanced water quality of upstream for irrigation. Because Zard River flows on many formations, the natural resources cause more solutes to be transported to the downstream. Hardness and pollution of surface water has increased at the downstream for irrigation usage which we need to control agricultural activities at the upstream before it changes the water quality in the long term.