Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purpose in Tajura Municipality, Libya

Abstract

Sustainable development in semi-arid and dry regions relies on maintaining freshwater resources, which necessitates thoughtful management of groundwater. This research was conducted to determine the suitability and quality of groundwater for drinking in several wells located in the Tajura area of ​​Tripoli, Libya. Thirty samples were collected at three random intervals from the coast. Physical and chemical analyses were performed on these samples, using eleven key parameters to calculate water quality indicators. These parameters include pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca⁺⁺), magnesium (Mg⁺⁺), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl^-), bicarbonate (HCO₃^-), sulfate (SO₄^--), and nitrate (NO₃^-). The arithmetic water quality index (WAWQI) and the standard water quality model (SWQM) were used to assess the suitability of the groundwater for drinking in the study area. Most results indicated that the groundwater quality in this area is unsuitable for drinking and therefore cannot be used for direct consumption. One of the most significant factors affecting water quality is the proximity of well locations to the sea coast, as well as their location next to sewage disposal tanks.