Identification of potable water using water quality index technique in the city of az-Zantan, Libya

Abstract EN

To identify potable water in the city of Az-Zintan, Libya is achieved by the chemical analysis of different resources of drinking water supplied to Az-Zintan City.

These resources are, rain water, groundwater and municipal water.

This was carried out by subjecting twenty one groundwater samples, collected from twenty one selected sites, to comprehensive chemical analysis.

Ten parameters have been considered for calculating the Water Quality Index (WQI) such as: pH, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate, and total dissolved solids.

Based on the computed water quality index values showed that the water that originates from rain is the most suitable for drinking and the water that originates from municipal water is unsuitable for drinking under normal conditions and therefore further action for salinity control is required.