Abstract
This study focuses on chemical and microbial analyses of 50 Zamzam water samples, Saudi Arabia. The soluble ions, trace elements, total colony counts, total coliform group, and E. coli were determined and compared with WHO standards. The obtained results indicated that the dissolved salts, soluble cations and anions, Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, PO43−, NO2−, Br−, F−, NH4+, and Li+, were within permissible limits for all samples. Yet, 2% of waters contain NO3− at slightly high concentration. The water quality index (WQI) reveals that 94% of the samples were excellent for drinking (class I). While the remaining was unsuitable due to total coliform group contamination “class (V)”. Durov diagram suggest no clear facies and dominant water type can be noted. It indicates mixing processes of two or more different facies might be occurring in the groundwater system. All studied waters were undersaturated with respect to halite, gypsum, fluorite, and anhydrite. These minerals tend to dissolve and increase water salinity. A direct relationship between Zamzam water salinity and rainfall is recorded. The water salinity fluctuated between 4500 mg L−1 (year 1950) and 500 mg L−1 (year 2015) based on rainfall extent. The approach applied can be used to similar groundwater worldwide.
Highlights
This study focuses on chemical and microbial analyses of 50 Zamzam water samples, Saudi Arabia
The Zamzam water salinity is monitored for long-term using our data for the years 2009, 2013 and 2015, and the salinity recorded by Salama (2005), Khalid et al (2014), American Bedu (2010), and Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research
This study suggests that the Zamzam water salinity was within acceptable limit, most groundwaters in Saudi Arabia are characterized by high salinity (Al-Omran et al 2012; Aly et al 2013)
Summary
This study focuses on chemical and microbial analyses of 50 Zamzam water samples, Saudi Arabia. Humans have to use water contaminated by disease vectors, pathogens, or improper concentrations of toxins (William and Frank 2000). Shomar (2012) reported that the Zamzam water contains high concentration of As and NO3 and set above permission limit of WHO; on the other hand, Al Nouri et al (2014). Appl Water Sci (2017) 7:3985–3996 reported that the Zamzam water is free of As contaminations and its concentration sets within permissible limits according to WHO (2011) and SASO (1984). Griffin et al (2007) reported that the Zamzam water contains high concentration of Fluoride and some other element. The results indicated that the water can be considered suitable for drinking; it contains slightly high concentration of fluoride, calcium, and magnesium (The annual report of the ministry of agriculture and water resources 1971). This study aims to investigate the chemical and microbiological composition of Zamzam water, assess Zamzam waters for drinking purposes, and classify the hydrochemical characterization of Zamzam well
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