TITLE:
Water Quality Index (WQI) of Nabaa El Tasseh Spring, Nabatiyeh, Lebanon
AUTHORS:
Fatima Abou Abbass, Nada Nehme, Bachar Koubaissy, Zeinab Ibrahim, Rabih Khalife, Lynn Hamadeh, Jihane Karameh, Khaled Tarawneh
KEYWORDS:
Water Resources, Chemical Parameters, Statistical Analysis, Water Quality, Treatment
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
25,
2024
ABSTRACT: Despite the abundant water resources available in Lebanon, it still faces a water shortage. Pollution is one of the main stresses on Lebanon’s water resources. This study was carried out in Nabaa El Tasseh Spring, the main water supply source in the Nabatiyeh Region. The aim of this study is to assess water quality of the spring of Nabaa El Tasseh during winter and spring seasons to determine the Water Quality Index (WQI). At the Environmental Laboratory of Lebanese University, Faculty of Agronomy, water was tested physiochemical parameters including temperature, hydrogen potential (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), anions (
NO
3
−
, Cl−,
SO
4
2−
), and cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, K+ and Fe2+). The majority of the physical and chemical parameters under investigation fell below the international and Lebanese norms, including WHO recommendations. Additionally, fecal Streptococcus, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms were determined using microbiological testing. Due to its proximity to agricultural activities, the Nabaa El Tasseh Spring water was contaminated by total coliforms. Fecal Coliforms and Fecal Streptococcus, on the other hand, are a sign of animal or human sewage contamination in groundwater. WQI was calculated using the Weighted Arithmetic Index approach. This study has shown that water quality in Nabaa El Tasseh Spring was not acceptable for consumption without treatment in February 2019 with WQI values equal to 88.608, but it became 31.51 acceptable during April and 18.22 in December 2022. An index is a useful tool for conveying water quality information to the public and legislative decision-makers. Although the WQI is excellent in the spring, there is microbiological pollution, thus water treatment is required. The results indicated that Principal Component Analysis (PCA) could clearly explain the pollution trends in the spring over several months. The study’s findings indicate that before the water of Nabaa El Tasseh Spring can be used for drinking or residential purposes, it must first undergo extensive treatment.