Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Wastewater Generated from Car Wash Stations in Tikrit City, Iraq

• Ali Samir Midhat & Mohammed Ghadhban Farjan

  Author

This study aimed to evaluate the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of wastewater from car wash stations in Tikrit, Salah al-Din Governorate, and to determine the level of pollution released from these stations into the environment. The study was conducted from October 2025 to March 2026, and included six sites within the Tikrit district. The results showed that the wastewater from the car wash stations exhibited significant variation in pollutant concentrations. Total hardness ranged from 409–588 mg/L, turbidity from 43–434 NTU, and pH from 6.4–8.9, indicating fluctuations between slightly acidic and alkaline conditions. Dissolved oxygen levels ranged from 6.75 to 8.31 mg/L, while aerobic bacteria levels ranged from 370 to 643, indicating a significant microbial load. Dissolved ions included sulfates from 292 to 510 mg/L and chlorides from 180 to 320 mg/L. The results also showed relatively high concentrations of some heavy metals, with iron ranging from 1.54 to 8.6 mg/L and cadmium from 1.21 to 4.62 mg/L. These are important indicators of wastewater contamination from oils, dirt, detergents, and metal residues generated during car washing operations. Overall, the study suggests that wastewater from car wash stations in Tikrit could be a source of environmental pollution, especially when discharged untreated directly into sewage systems or the surrounding environment. Therefore, the study recommends the necessity of establishing primary treatment units in car wash stations, monitoring the quality of the discharged water periodically, and reducing the discharge of chemical and microbial pollutants in order to preserve the soil, surface and groundwater.

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