Evaluation of groundwater quality along al-abyar area, northeast libya

Abstract

Worldwide, the stress on the freshwater resources is increasing due to population growth and rapid industrialization. Libya is considered as one of the countries which suffer from limited water resources availability. Groundwater is an important water resource in both the urban and rural areas of Libya. To evaluate the quality of groundwater for multiple purposes in the Abyar aera with regard to Physical, Chemical, Heavy Metals and Microbiological. The study conducted in Al-Abyar Regin on seven wells; duration from July 2018 to July 2019, for the following’s parameters, Physical pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Temperature (0C), Total dissolved Solids (TDS), Chemical Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (T. Alk), Sulphate (SO4), Nitrate (NO3), Chloride (Cl), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Bicarbonate (HCO3), Heavy Metals Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cr), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), and Microbiological total coliforms and Total Bacterial counts, and analysis of Results done with Excel as well as spss. Results showed that; Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, total hardness, Calcium, Chloride and total bacterial count were higher than WHO standard. Bicarbonate level was higher than WHO standard in most of the wells. Most of wells were higher than WHO standard with regard of Nitrate. all wells were higher than WHO as well as Libyan standard with regard cadmium, Iron and lead. While temperature, Ph, potassium was normal. All wells were very good for animal consumption, good for domestic purposes, and very acceptable for poultry, some wells may be used in paper industry, Textile, canning and drinks industry. Repair and maintain the wells should be one of the most priority to improve socioeconomic status in Al-Abyar region, and monitor the water quality periodically in essential.