Estimation of sodium and potassium content in bottled water available in commercial markets

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of the most popularly traded bottled water in Tripoli. The quality of two types of imported water and 30 types of locally produced bottled water were assessed using samples taken from the commercial markets of different companies that produce bottled water. The outcomes were then compared to the Libyan standard and the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines. In this case, the assessment involved looking at a few physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water, such as pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), EC (electric conductivity), Na (Sodium), and K (Potassium). The study's findings demonstrated that bottled water in the study area complied with WHO guidelines and the Libyan standard, but it did so at much lower levels than the minimum and maximum allowable standards that were approved. This has a negative impact on human health because drinking water with low salt content can lead to a number of health issues, such as low blood pressure, osteoporosis, imbalance, memory loss, and other illnesses. The findings also indicated that there is a discrepancy between the specifications listed on the packages and the outcomes of the examination of the samples that were examined in the center's laboratories, indicating that the specification values listed on the packages do not accurately reflect the actual content of these packages. Keywords: Bottled drinking water, standard specifications, physical and chemical properties.