Fuzzy system modelling to assess water quality for irrigation purposes

This study attempts to find a fuzzy logic system for assessing the quality of water in water treatment plants (WTPs) providing water for irrigation purposes in the Basrah Governorate (South of Iraq). Each month, samples are taken in each of six major WTPs to measure electrical conductivity (EC), and the content of sodium, magnesium and calcium. The calculated value which is the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is plotted with EC on the Richard diagram. SAR and EC values are combined together in a fuzzy inference system (FIS) to find out a quality number called the fuzzy irrigation water quality index number (FIWQI) which ranges from zero to one. The higher the value of the index, the better water quality. The Richard diagram, which helps to classify irrigation water, is used to adjust FIS components. Results show that the FIWQI for all WTPs changes depending on location and season. It ranges between 0.114–0.170, 0.120–0.190, 0.114–0.170, 0.114–0.202, 0.118–0.500 and 0.46–0.500 for Al-Bradhaia 1, Al-Jubaila 1, Shatt Al-Arab, Garmmah 1, Al-Rebat, and Old Shauaibah WTPs, respectively. The results indicate that WTPs effluent drawn from the Shatt Al-Arab River has poor water quality for irrigation purposes, except for an Old Shauaibah which receives water from another source called a sweet water canal. FIS results are compared with values obtained from the Richard diagram and 96% degree of compatibility between the two methods is attained. This indicates that FIS is an acceptable method for water quality classification.