A scientific study conducted at the University of Basra by faculty members Inas Awni Mahdi and Dr. Nasser Abdullah Helou from the Department of Ecology at the College of Science investigated microbial contamination in tap water and household water tanks in various areas of Basra Governorate.

The study was published in the journal EnvironmentAsia, which is indexed in Scopus.

The study involved collecting water samples from fifteen different areas in Basra Governorate and analyzing them to detect microbial contamination.

The results showed that all samples were contaminated with coliform bacteria, fecal bacteria, and fungi. When compared to the specifications for potable water according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, the water was deemed unsuitable for various uses.