Investigation of some physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters of water quality in some dams in Albaha region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of water in selected dams in Albaha region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Water samples from eight dams were subjected to physical, chemical, and bacteriological assessment using standardized procedures of conductivity, total dissolved solids, ions, acidity & alkalinity, and EC blue 100® coliform detection. About three fourth (75%) of dams’ water samples exceeded the permissible levels of pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, Mn and NO 3 set by Saudi standards. Average levels of total dissolved solids, Fe, Mn, SO 4 , NO 3 , and NO 2 were 3065.00, 0.10, 0.89, 68.25, 17.91 and 0.016 mg/L, respectively. However, the average pH of water samples was 7.95 ± 0.66 which still within the accepted range set by national and global standards. Moreover, total dissolved solids also exceeded regular standards of Food and Agriculture Organization for irrigation water quality. Coliform bacteria were detected in 37.5% of dams without any significant spatial differences between dams and sites as groups. Correlations were found between pH & NO 3 , SO 4 & NO 3 , coliform bacteria & turbidity, coliform bacteria & NO 2 levels. Increased concentrations of assessed parameters in dams may be attributed to agricultural activities as well as animal and human wastes deposited into dams via rainfalls and flash floods. Proper treatment of dams needs to be taken into account before consumption and irrigation.

Assessment of Urban Water Quality, Al-Lahyan Water Treatment Plant, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

“…It can be noticed that for raw water, turbidity, and total coliforms exceeded the Saudi standards during August 2020, which may return to the agricultural activities and municipal waste which may be conveyed to the reservoir via rainfall and flash floods. These results are coincide with the study of Albaggar [33], where the author investigated the bacterial water quality status of eight reservoirs in Al-Baha region, includes Al-Aqiq reservoir. Regarding…”

“…Al-Baha Region [33]. 75% of samples exceeded the permissible limits and coliform bacteria was detected in 37.5% of samples.…”

Evaluation of water quality of Angereb reservoir: a chemometrics approach

“…The TDS values were below the permissible limit of 600 mg L −1 given by WHO for all water samples (WHO, 2017). The values were comparable to that reported for some dams in Saudi Arabia (Albaggar 2021), Saudi Arabia (Musa et al 2014).…”

“…Similarly, its level lower than the values reported from Greece (Chamoglou et al 2018), Portugal (Palma et al 2014) and from Ghana (Boadi et al 2020). The values are comparable with reports for some dams in Saudi Arabia (Albaggar 2021), Ondo State, Gilgel Gibe Reservoir, Ethiopia, concentration ranged from 0.62 to 0.69 (Woldeab et al 2018), Adesakin (0.3-5.32 mg L −1 ) of water reservoir reported from Nigeria (Adesakin et al 2020), and Garra River, India, with NO 3 − values ranged from 0.03 to 3.79 mg L −1 (Khan and Wen 2021). However, the concentrations of NO 3…”

Groundwater Quality Assessment for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes at Al-Jouf Area in KSA Using Artificial Neural Network, GIS, and Multivariate Statistical Techniques

“…Around 97% of irrigation water comes from groundwater resources [3]. Groundwater is also favored for drinking purposes because of its safety and quality compared to surface water; however, human activation increased affected its quality and added a lot of physical, chemical, and microbial pollutants [4][5][6].…”