Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon

Abstract Multiple sources of drinking water are commonly used in Lebanon, including bottled water, tap water, potable water, spring, artesian wells and station filtered water. The quality of these waters is of great concern, as its contamination could lead to waterborne outbreaks. We aimed to invest...

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Main Authors: Fatima Fahes, Israa Dib, Rana El Haidari, Fatima Nourdine, Kassem Baydoun, Samir Mansour, Abbas Hoballah, Mohamad Fakih
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89048-3
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author Fatima Fahes
Israa Dib
Rana El Haidari
Fatima Nourdine
Kassem Baydoun
Samir Mansour
Abbas Hoballah
Mohamad Fakih
author_facet Fatima Fahes
Israa Dib
Rana El Haidari
Fatima Nourdine
Kassem Baydoun
Samir Mansour
Abbas Hoballah
Mohamad Fakih
author_sort Fatima Fahes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Multiple sources of drinking water are commonly used in Lebanon, including bottled water, tap water, potable water, spring, artesian wells and station filtered water. The quality of these waters is of great concern, as its contamination could lead to waterborne outbreaks. We aimed to investigate the quality of drinking water in Lebanon, considering different sources and geographic distributions, and to compare their profiles across diverse governorates. A total of 200 samples (133 potable water, 28 station filtered water, 18 tap water, 8 spring water, 7 artesian well water and 6 bottled water) from five Lebanese governorates (Nabatieh, Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, Baalbek-Hermel and South Lebanon) were analyzed for physico-chemical and bacterial properties. The results indicated elevated phosphate concentrations in all areas (> 1.35 mg/L). Additionally, all analyzed bacteria were present in all regions, highlighting the lack of contamination-free sources. While in Baalbek-Hermel, followed by Nabatieh, exhibited the highest chemical levels, microbiological contamination particularly total and fecal coliforms, was consistent across governorates, showing no significant difference (p > 0.05). However, the distribution of Streptococcus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa varied significantly among the different zones (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). All drinking water sources in various Lebanese governorates were found to be contaminated with multiple contaminants. Based on these findings, the sources used for drinking in Lebanon are not entirely safe and require monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-b925af094a61419080e9be71d1b516b52025-08-20T02:10:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-89048-3Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in LebanonFatima Fahes0Israa Dib1Rana El Haidari2Fatima Nourdine3Kassem Baydoun4Samir Mansour5Abbas Hoballah6Mohamad Fakih7Reaseach Department, Health SocietyLaboratoire Eau, Environnement, Système Urbains (LEESU), University PaRIS-Est CrétailReaseach Department, Health SocietyReaseach Department, Health SocietyReaseach Department, Health SocietyReaseach Department, Health SocietyReaseach Department, Health SocietyEnvironmental Health Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences V, Lebanese UniversityAbstract Multiple sources of drinking water are commonly used in Lebanon, including bottled water, tap water, potable water, spring, artesian wells and station filtered water. The quality of these waters is of great concern, as its contamination could lead to waterborne outbreaks. We aimed to investigate the quality of drinking water in Lebanon, considering different sources and geographic distributions, and to compare their profiles across diverse governorates. A total of 200 samples (133 potable water, 28 station filtered water, 18 tap water, 8 spring water, 7 artesian well water and 6 bottled water) from five Lebanese governorates (Nabatieh, Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, Baalbek-Hermel and South Lebanon) were analyzed for physico-chemical and bacterial properties. The results indicated elevated phosphate concentrations in all areas (> 1.35 mg/L). Additionally, all analyzed bacteria were present in all regions, highlighting the lack of contamination-free sources. While in Baalbek-Hermel, followed by Nabatieh, exhibited the highest chemical levels, microbiological contamination particularly total and fecal coliforms, was consistent across governorates, showing no significant difference (p > 0.05). However, the distribution of Streptococcus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa varied significantly among the different zones (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). All drinking water sources in various Lebanese governorates were found to be contaminated with multiple contaminants. Based on these findings, the sources used for drinking in Lebanon are not entirely safe and require monitoring.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89048-3Drinking waterLebanonPhysico-chemicalQuality of water
spellingShingle Fatima Fahes
Israa Dib
Rana El Haidari
Fatima Nourdine
Kassem Baydoun
Samir Mansour
Abbas Hoballah
Mohamad Fakih
Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
Scientific Reports
Drinking water
Lebanon
Physico-chemical
Quality of water
title Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
title_full Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
title_fullStr Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
title_full_unstemmed Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
title_short Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in Lebanon
title_sort chemical physical and microbiological analyses of different drinking water sources among diverse governorates in lebanon
topic Drinking water
Lebanon
Physico-chemical
Quality of water
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89048-3
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