This study evaluates the drinking water quality at household level in Ramallah and Al-Bireh district of Palestine to identify management priorities and improve public health. The data of various quality parameters (physicochemical and microbiological) of drinking water samples obtained from the Ministry of Health records were analysed. The results showed that most physicochemical parameters were within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization and the Palestine Standards Institute including electrical conductivity, fluoride, chloride, hardness, salinity, turbidity, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sulphate, total alkalinity, chlorine, and total dissolved solids. Yet, some samples tested for nitrate, pH, ammonia, and total and faecal coliforms violated the standards. The results revealed that the drinking water quality is good physicochemically but unsafe biologically. This urges water suppliers for proper interventions and corrective actions. Regulatory authorities need to conduct further monitoring and evaluation for water sources to protect human health and prevent infectious diseases.
Bazzar et al. (Thu,) studied this question.