Microbiological Evaluation and Chemical Analysis of Potable Water in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological and chemical safety of drinking water by using some chemical parameters and microbiological tests such as heterotrophic plate count, total coliforms and fecal coliforms

In this study 14 samples were obtained from three sources [water purification stations (S), water bottling system (BO) and water local purification system (L)] from different locations in Aljabel Alakhdar [Susah (S), Derna (D), Shahat (SH), Albayda (B), Po Traba (T), Alhamama (H) and Almarj (J)].

The obtained microbiological examination results were: water purification stations samples shown highest hetrotrophic plate count (total count) among all other samples sources, their total counts were 716 cfu/100ml by ST sample followed by sample SD (668 cfu/100ml) then SS sample (616 cfu/100ml). The other two sources showed large variations in their total counts. The water bottling system samples total counts were 430 cfu/100ml (BO5) and 393 cfu/100ml (BO4), while samples BO3, B01 and B02 exhibited lowest counts 73, 72 and 65 cfu/100ml respectively. On the other hand the water local purification system samples total count were ordered as follow: LB1(503 cfu/100ml), LB2 (397 cfu/100ml), LSH (379 cfu/100ml), LH (295 cfu/100ml), LB3 (257 cfu/100ml) and LJ (87 cfu/100ml).

The total coliform test which included the presumptive , confirmative and completed tests. All samples were contained total colilform, eight samples (SD, BO2, BO3, BO4, LJ, LB1, LB2 and LSH) showed positive confirmative test and these eight samples were also confirmed presence of fecal coli form.

The chemical parameters result showed that the highest total dissolved solids (TDS) of water samples obtained was (138.5 mg/L) by LB3, while the lowest was (6 mg/L) by sample LJ. The measured pH of the samples were ranged between 7.32 and 7.00, except LJ which measured 6.2. The potassium concentrations 9 – 2 mg /L. The sodium concentrations ranged between 5 - 1 mg/L. The calcium concentration varied from 90 to 2 mg /L. The conductivity of the water samples showed large variationo ranged between 259.7 and 24.3 µs.

The study revealed that there was fecal coli form pollution in some investigated water sources and this may leads to serious health risk.

السير الشخصية للمؤلفين Mona E. Elyass، Faculty of Medical Technology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya Faculty of Medical Technology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya

Mahmoud F.Gaballa، Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya. Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University,

Al-Beida, Libya.

Mohammed A. A. Soutiyah، Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University,

Al-Beida, Libya

Alaa Alrahman D.M. Abid،  Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya ** Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University,

Al-Beida, Libya

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