The research aims to assess the water quality of Alkaber Alshemaly River through
field and laboratory study included identifying each of the following variables: dissolved
oxygen (DO), carbonic biochemical oxygen demand(CBOD), and the river tempera
ture,
electrical conductivity (Cond). We have also modeled two important water-quality
variables (DO and BOD) using QUAL2K river and stream surface water-quality model.
The studied part of the river is an area located between 16 October dam and Alegnsa,
where we have five sampling sites. The field and laboratory study showed increase in D.O
values to reach the highest values in the months of March, April, January and February,
and the lowest values were recorded in the months of July, August, September in all
sampling sites. As a final result all D.O values in all locations were higher than the
minimum allowable 5 mg/l. For CBOD5 the highest values were recorded in the months of
June, July and August, and the lowest values were recorded in the months of March,
December, and January at all of the sites studied. In the case of D.O and CBOD, the
research showed a good correspondence between the model results and field values in the
months of March, January, and November, but the correspondence was relatively less in
August. In general, the study showed the possibility to use the QUAL2K model to
simulate rivers-water quality in Syria.
