Heavy Metal–Based Water Quality and Pollution Indices Assessment of Drinking Waters in Ağrı Province, Türkiye

Authors : Ufuk Mercan Yücel

Pages : 207-218

Doi:10.53472/jenas.1805583

View : 45 | Download : 121

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, water quality and pollution levels in terms of heavy metals were evaluated in drinking water samples collected from water reservoirs, boreholes, and public fountains belonging to the Ağrı Water and Sewerage Administration in the central neighborhoods of Ağrı Province. For this purpose, water samples were taken from 50 different locations in the central neighborhoods of Ağrı province. Analyses of Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Co and Zn in the drinking water samples were performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In this study, the water quality ındex (WQI) was used to evaluate the quality of drinking water, while the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal assessment index (HEI), and pollution level (DC) were used to determine the heavy metal pollution of drinking water. As a result of the analyses, Hg was not detected in the water samples. The determined ranges of WQI, HPI, HEI, and DC values were 77.35–101.74, 64.14–93.25, 5.01–6.81, and −2.99 to −1.19, respectively. Except for sampling point N1, WQI values between 50 and 100 indicated that the drinking water samples were classified as good-quality water according to water quality criteria. Based on the HPI results, the ranking of heavy metal concentrations was Pb > Cd > Co > Ni > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu. The highest HPI and HEI values were observed in water samples collected from region N12. However, since HPI values at all sampling points were below 100, the drinking water samples were considered unlikely to cause adverse health effects. In addition, because HEI values were below 10 and DC values were below 1 at all locations, the water samples were classified as having low pollution levels. Overall, the results indicate that drinking water in the city center of Ağrı Province is generally suitable for consumption. However, due to industrial pollutants, the uncontrolled use of organic and chemical fertilizers, and the application of wastewater and sewage sludge in agriculture, regular heavy metal analysis and pollution monitoring in drinking water are essential for public health.
Keywords : İçme suyu, Ağrı İli, Ağır Metal, Su Kalitesi, Kirlilik İndeksi

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