A Study on Solid Waste Composition and Characteristics of Mosul City/Iraq

Mosul city, like many other cities in IRAQ, is currently experiencing serious problems at all stages of solid-waste management, that is the collection, sorting, transportation, and disposal of garbage. Presently,  Mosul city (1.52 millions inhabitants and 3.0 % growth rate) produces over 377264 tons of waste a year or 1033.6 tons per day .The above estimates was obtained through  solid waste survey comprising selected  families. These families were thought to represent the city  in terms of cultural, religious, economical and social aspects. 1680 sample of solid waste were collected from February  to end of June 2009. The results revealed that the city generated 0.68 kg/capita/day and that the usual composition was dominated by organic and food constituents. It appeared that social & economical aspects as well as the current instability and insecurity conditions of the country had a considerable impacts on both generation and composition of solid waste. The average studied physical and chemical properties were estimated and tabulated. Their values were (65-480Kg/m3), (90812KJ/Kg ), (50.2%) and (48.86Kg/100Kg) for density, total energy, moisture content and dry weight  respectively

SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF PHYTOPLANKTON

Todefine the biological features of phytoplankton in Mosul  Dam  Lake, monthly samples were collectedalong a year from September 2003 to August 2004. Consisting thermalstratification and turn over periods from four locations in the main lake andanother location in the regulating lake. Total numbers of algae  reached 2300 cell/ml in the main lake and 1100cell/ml in the regulating lake.Bacillariophyta were dominant with a maximum number of 1400 cell/ml in autumn. Chlorophytawere dominant in autumn also with 550 cell/ml. Ten genus of Chlorophyta wereappeared in this water body: Cosmarium, Chlorella, Spirogyra, Scendesmus, Pediastrum, Tetraedron, Quadrigula, Ankiseradosm, Pandorina, and Straurastrum.Seven genus of Bacillariophyta were noticeable. Some genus of Cyanophyta was recorded as Aphanocapsa. In addition someEuglenophyta spp. were occurred in the main lake and the regulating lake also. On thebasis of these algae abundance, the lake is undergoing cultural Eutrophication.It has passed in mesotrophic state (the middle trophic state ofEutrophication). Some genera which were appeared are the indication ofeutrophic state.Totalplate count bacteria ranged from 400-1700 cell/ ml in the main lake and 200-950 cell/ml in the regulating lakewere also recorded. Coliform bacteria were founded with most probablenumber  reached 460 cell/100ml in themain lake and 150 cell/100ml in the regulating lake. Therefore, the lake wateris classified as moderate pure and considering a good source of raw water supplywith all treatment units and safe for swimming and recreational uses