Evaluate the quality of well water and desalinated water, their suitability for drinking, and assess their health risks

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the quality of drinking water in Tripoli and its surrounding areas. By analyzing groundwater well water and desalinated water samples for several physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The   study is based on samples collected from  10 samples  wells and 10 samples desalinated water   in different locations were analyzed including the measurement of pH, total hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, and sulphate, as well as the determination of selected heavy metals, namely aluminum, chromium, iron, copper, lead, and zinc. The results were interpreted by comparing the physical and chemical quality of both water sources to international standards, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as the Libyan drinking water specification. The results showed that some well water samples contained high levels of dissolved salts and nitrates likely due to aquifer geological conditions or contamination from agricultural activities. But desalinated water contained lower concentrations of dissolved salts as a result of the treatment process however; it often had reduced levels of beneficial minerals, which may lead to chemical imbalance and greater interaction with plumbing materials. In both well water and desalinated water, chromium was higher levels indicating potential limitations in treatment performance or contamination during storage and distribution. Microbiological contamination was detected in most well water samples, indicating possible external pollution of groundwater. When comparing the two water sources, clear differences were observed in chemical composition and mineral balance. Well water was characterized by a greater variety of naturally occurring minerals, whereas desalinated water was low in salts but often appears chemically “dead” due to the lack of mineral rebalancing. However, the desalinated water was found to be lacking in beneficial minerals, which can make it more chemically “unstable” or “dead” in terms of mineral balance. the, study concludes that it is necessary to establish a new, comprehensive, periodic monitoring and evaluation system for drinking water It is also important to re-mineralize desalinated water to ensure health safety and suitability for long-term use, while reducing problems related to corrosion and secondary contamination during distribution through domestic water networks.