Assessment of the Physico-Chemical Parameters of Surface Water Samples in Birjand Flood Plain, Iran

The physico-chemical status of twelve surface water samples from the Birjand flood plain of eastern Iran during the November 2010 were assessed. The sampling points were selected on the basis of their importance. The physico-chemical parameter like, pH, temperature (T), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+ ), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), sulphate (SO42-), phosphate (PO43-), bicarbonate (HCO3–), carbonate (CO32–), nitrite (NO2–), nitrate (NO3–), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of surface water were determined. Results showed that the quality of surface water not suitable for drinking, with references to the concentrations of EC, TDS, TH, Na+, HCO3-, and BOD5 which are more than the prescribed limits, in most sites. Results also indicated that there were correlations among the measured parameters.