A scientific study conducted in the Department of Ecology at the College of Science, University of Basra, by Dr. Maitham Abdullah Ghali and student Zahraa Jassim Mohammed, investigated water quality in the Shatt al-Basra Canal using refrigeration and pollution indicators.

The study, published in the IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science journal (indexed in Scopus), revealed that the Shatt al-Basra Canal is experiencing significant deterioration in water quality due to the continuous discharge of large quantities of untreated sewage.

The study assessed the water quality of the Shatt al-Basra Canal by applying a set of significant environmental and pollution indicators that reflect the environmental condition of the targeted water body.

The results of the study indicated a marked decline in the water quality of the Shatt al-Basra Canal, attributed to the impact of untreated sewage and agricultural and industrial pollutants. These findings are of particular importance to specialists and government agencies responsible for water resources and the environment, as they highlight the need to develop environmental policies and manage river water in southern Iraq, especially in Basra Governorate.