The quality of surface waters may deteriorate due to the presence of various polluting parameters such as salts, organic and inorganic matters. Chloride is such a polluting parameter. The presence of chloride, in rivers and streams is due to waste water and drainage water disposal. This study is concerned with evaluating chloride concentration in river Euphrates through Al-Diwaniya city. Chloride variation with distance and time was studied and the effect of its concentration on various uses of the water was evaluated.

River Euphrates monthly-chloride concentration at Al-Diwaniya city were analyzed for two years period (2004 and 2005).Water samples were taken from 10 stations distributed along a 65 km reach of the river.

Figure .1 shows the location of sampling stations and wastewater and drainage canals discharging points into the river.
Chloride concentration in river Euphrates is below the allowable limit for drinking water standards (Schluz (1992 and Smethurst 1997). The highest monthly chloride concentration recorded within the two years period was 192 mg/l at station No.1in January, 2004 compared with the lowest concentration of 108 mg/l recorded at station No. 4 in August, 2005 (ASCE,1990)