Assessment of Validity of Ground Water for Drinking Purposes in the Almarqab Region in Libya

Abstract

"In this study, Analysis of 12 samples of ground water were carried out belong four locations within the area of Almarqab in Libya and physical, chemical and biological analyzes were performed for samples which are pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, taste and Odor, sodium, sulfates, nitrates, chloride, magnesium, calcium, and the bacteriological examination represented by the total number of coliform. The physico chemical analyzes for Zliten and Alkhoms locations have shown that the parameters of total dissolved solids, total hardness, chlorine, sodium, nitrate (TDS, TH, Cl, Na, No3) respectively, taste and smell had exceeded the limits of the specification, Whereas the samples of Meslatah and Tarhonah locations were within the specifications, While the bacteriological analysis showed that all study samples have been contaminated by bacteria colon. Study also demonstrated that there is an overlap for the sea water in Zliten and Alkhoms samples, As well as The study revealed that the source of contamination for Zliten and Alkhoms samples were sewage, agricultural activities and seawater, While the contamination source in Mesalatah and Tarhonah samples was sewage. This confirms the inevitability of the transformation immediately to the treatment to make the water in Zliten and Alkhoms suitable for drinking, And the necessity of transformation to water treatment of Meslatah, Tarhonah in the near future"