A study of the physical properties of drinking water in some areas of western Libya

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the quality of drinking water in some areas of the western region by comparing the physical properties of ten desalinated water samples and eight groundwater (well) samples. Laboratory analyses were conducted for a number of important parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity and the obtained results were compared with the Libyan national standards and those of the World Health Organization (WHO).).

       The results showed that the pH of desalinated water ranged from 7.7 to 8.9. Most samples were within the permissible limit, except for samples A1, A2, and A4, which recorded values of  8.9, 8.6, and 8.6 respectively—slightly above the maximum allowed limit. As for well water, pH values ranged between 7.1 and 8.3, and all were within acceptable limits.

       The electrical conductivity of desalinated water was relatively low, ranging from 84.6 to 466.6 μS/cm, and all values were within the recommended limits. In contrast, well water samples ranged from 109.4 to 6027 μS/cm, indicating a clear exceedance in several samples (B2, B4, B6, B7) of the permissible limits, suggesting high salinity. These samples recorded values of 3465, 4249, 6027 and 3364 μS/cm respectively.

      All TDS values in desalinated water were within permissible limits. As for well water, it was observed that four samples (B2, B4, B6, B7) recorded values of  2247, 2761, 3918, and 2186 mg/L, respectively exceeding the acceptable limits.

        Turbidity levels in all desalinated and well water samples were within acceptable limits, except for two well water samples (B6 and B9), which recorded values of 3.04 and 2.38 NTU, respectively. These exceeded the ideal limit but remained below the maximum allowable limit.