Evaluation of physico-chemical and microbial quality of bottled drinking water marketed in Tripoli city , Libya.

This study aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbial quality of 30 brands of bottled drinking water available in Tripoli, Libya. The results of the analyses were compared with both Libyan standards and world Health Organization (WHO ) guidelines. The investigated parameters were mainly pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Total hardness (TH) as CaCO₃, Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Chloride (Cl-), Iron (Fe2+), and Magnesium (Mg2+) using standard analytical techniques available in the laboratory. The results showed that EC, CaCO₃, HCO₃⁻, Fe²⁺, Cl⁻, and Mg²⁺ were within the acceptable range of Libyan and WHO standards, whereas TDS levels in all samples were below the WHO's permissible limits, and 11 samples had TDS levels below the Libyan minimum standard for drinking water set by Libyan regulations. Microbiological analysis confirmed the absence of harmful microorganisms in all samples, indicating that the bottled water brands analyzed are safe for human consumption.