CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WELLSAND RIVERS IN LEBANESE URBAN CITIES

Authors

NADA EL-DARRA Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, LebanonFollow
CELINE HAJJAR Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanon, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, LebanonFollow
MICHEL AFRAM Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanon, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, LebanonFollow

Keywords

Contaminants, Wells, Rivers, Lebanese Urban Cities.

Disciplines

Architecture | Business | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Unsafe drinking water has been implicated in numerous health problems in developing countries. This latter is a result of the increase in human population and urbanization. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the water contamination in the Lebanese urban cities. Consequently, it has become necessary to monitor the chemical and microbiological parameters of different wells and rivers in Lebanese Urban Cities. In this present study, we analyzed the chemical and microbiological characteristics of water coming from different wells in Urban Cities (Baakline, Hasbaya, Kfarchakhna, Kesrwan, Antelias, Fanar, Lebaa, Tal Amara, Tyre) and seven Lebanese rivers (Hasbani, Rachiine, Kadisha, Awali, Ghzayel, Berdawni, Litani). Heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ar, Hg), various chemical elements (Ca, Mg, Bicarbonate, Na, K, Nitrate and sulfur) and different microbial strains were determined for each source. The samples collected from the wells of the different cities were not conform (20 to 82%) in heavy metals, not conform (20 to 85%) in chemical elements as well as not conform (52 to 100%) in the microbial load to the Lebanese standard of water (LIBNOR). The chemical and microbiological characteristics of all river samples were not conform to the Lebanese standard of the water, with some samples even contaminated with mercury. Noting that many cases of bacterial infections were detected in some cities due to the bacterial contamination of the wells, a need of ensuring a reliable access of a safe drinking water is important to sustain our Lebanese cities.

Recommended Citation

EL-DARRA, NADA Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences; HAJJAR, CELINE Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanon; and AFRAM, MICHEL Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanon (2018) "CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WELLSAND RIVERS IN LEBANESE URBAN CITIES," BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing: Vol. 1: Iss. 3, Article 34.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8288.1086