Journal of University of Duhok., Vol. 22, No.2 (Agri. and Vet. Sciences), Pp 93-100, 2102 nabaz_im@hotmail.com; nabaz.mohammed@uod.ac 93 ASSESSEMENT OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS IN RURAL AREA. CASE STUDY OF BAREBUHAR VILLAGE, DUHOK GOVERNORATE, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ NABAZ IBRAHEEM MOHAMMED Dept. of Recreation and Ecotourism, College of Agricultural Engineering Science, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq (Received: July 23, 2019; Accepted for Publication: October 16, 2019) ABSTRACT Heavy metals are considered dangerous due to their tendency to bioaccumulate in a biological organism (tissues) over time. Their toxicity can result in damaged or reduced central nervous function, energy levels, lungs, kidneys, liver and other vital organs. This study was conducted to determine some heavy metals levels (Mn, Pb, Cu, Co, Ni, and Zn) in 15 deferent water sources collected from Barebuhar village, Duhok governorate. The concentration of heavy metals was determined via atomic spectrophotometer. The obtained results show that Mn and Pb concentration in some water sample were higher than recommended levels set by deferent organization such as WHO, EPA, and EC for drinking water. Since the concentrations of these heavy metals were above the standard levels in some water sources, these high levels can cause the adverse effects on human health if the water from these sources taken for drinking purposes. Also high concentrations physico-chemical parameters like EC (up to 2399 μS/cm) and TDS (up to 1243 mg/l) were detected in some water sample above permissible levels for drinking purposes. KEYWORDS: Heavy metals, Contamination, Lead, Drinking water, Groundwater https://doi.org/10.26682/ajuod.2019.22.2.10 1. INTRODUCTION n arid and semi-arid regions, water is becoming one of the major environmental issues due to drought sensitivity, increasing consumption, and high rate of contamination (Ragab and Prudhomme, 2002; Yousuf et al., 2018; Mohammed and Bamarni, 2019). Water resources contaminants such as toxic (heavy) metals, nitrates and salt have found their way into water resources due to insufficient treatment and disposal of waste (human and livestock), industrial discharges, use of chemical fertilizer and pesticide in agriculture, and over-use of limited water resources (Singh and Mosley, 2003). Moreover, natural sources are also likely to contribute higher levels of metals and other chemicals that can negatively affect human health. Various trace elements are micronutrient for living system, their absence or surplus can impact adversely human body (Jinwal et al., 2009), while, some heavy metals can be toxic even at low concentration because of their tendency to accumulate in the body tissue (Domenico and Schwartz, 1998). Heavy metals in groundwater are generally dissolved in very minute quantities in most of the cases and its concentration is less than 1 mg/l (USGS, 1993). Therefore, groundwater pollution and its management has become the need of time since its reaching influence on human well-being. The examination of heavy metal concentrations in water resources is required to provide important information on human influence on the environment and serve as an indicator of pollutant loading (Bayan and Mustafa, 2018; Mustafa et al., 2018). The main goal of this work is to determine the concentration of some of the physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, and TDS) and heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in groundwater resources and springs of the Barebuhar village, Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region of Iraq and to compare the values with the international organizations (such as WHO) recommended drinking water standards. This study is useful in local and regional scale for water resource management mainly in rural area. 2. MATERIAL AND METHOD 2.1 Study area I