Assessment of the Quality of Household Water Storage Tanks and Their Suitability for Drinking in Brak Al-Shati Area, Libya

Abstract

This study aims to assess the quality of water stored in household tanks in the Brak Al-Shati area, southern Libya, and to evaluate its compliance with Libyan and international drinking water standards. A total of 20 random samples were collected from household water tanks and analyzed in the laboratory to measure a set of physical and chemical parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate. The results revealed significant variations among the samples, where some pH values were outside the permissible range, and calcium and magnesium concentrations exceeded standard limits in several samples, indicating water hardness, while sodium and potassium concentrations were generally low. In addition, elevated levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) were recorded in some tanks, exceeding allowable limits and reducing water acceptability for human consumption, whereas bicarbonate concentrations remained within acceptable levels. These findings indicate that the quality of household tank water in the study area is unstable and may affect its suitability for drinking in certain cases. The study recommends conducting regular analyses of household tank water, ensuring periodic cleaning and maintenance of tanks, and expanding future studies to include microbiological analyses to ensure water safety and protect public health.