Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in Derna, Ain Mara, and Al-Quba (Al- Jabal Al- Akhdar Basin) following Storm Daniel

Abstract

The city of Derna and the surrounding areas located within the Al- Jabal Al- Akhdar basin, one of the most important water basins in Libya, experienced a severe environmental disaster as a result of Storm Daniel, which struck the region in September 2023. This event led to devastating floods and the collapse of infrastructure, including water supply and sewage networks, raising concerns about the potential contamination of drinking water sources with chemical and microbiological pollutants. This study focuses on evaluating the quality of drinking water in three areas within the Al- Jabal Al- Akhdar basin: Derna, Ain Mara, and Al-Quba. Fieldwork was conducted during different periods following the disaster (from November 2024 to April 2025) to assess the extent to which water quality was affected by environmental factors resulting from the floods. The analyses included physical parameters (such as temperature and turbidity), chemical parameters (such as nitrates and chlorine), and microbiological parameters (such as coliform bacteria). The results were compared with the Libyan Standard Specification No. 82 of 2013, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 2011. The results showed that all samples complied with the Libyan standards, with no indications of serious or persistent contamination. This suggests that the ecosystem of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar has the capacity to absorb environmental shocks, as well as the effectiveness of the efforts made by the relevant authorities to contain the negative impacts of natural disasters. The study concluded with several recommendations, including the need for continuous periodic monitoring of water quality, expanding the geographical scope of assessment, and developing an environmental water emergency plan for future disasters.