Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad el Solh 1107, 2020, Beirut, Lebanon.
Environ Monit Assess. 2012 Jul;184(7):4151-60. doi: 10.1007/s10661-011-2251-z. Epub 2011 Aug 20.
Considering that water is becoming progressively scarce, monitoring water quality of rivers is a subject of ongoing concern and research. It is very intricate to accurately express water quality as water quantity due to the various variables influencing it. A water quality index which integrates several variables in a specific value may be used as a management tool in water quality assessment. Moreover, this index may facilitate communication with the public and decision makers. The main objectives of this research project are to evaluate the water quality index along a recreational section of a relatively small Mediterranean river in Southern Lebanon and to characterize the spatial and temporal variability. Accordingly, an assessment was conducted at the end of the dry season for a period of 5 years from 2005 to 2009. The estimated water quality index classified the average water quality over a 5-year period at the various sites as good. Results revealed that water quality of the Damour River is generally affected by the anthropogenic activities taking place along its watershed. The best quality was found in the upper sites and the worst at the estuary. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in very high levels may indicate potential health risks to swimmers. This study can be used to support the evaluation of management, regulatory, and monitoring decisions.
鉴于水资源日益短缺，监测河流的水质是一个持续关注和研究的课题。由于影响水质的各种变量，准确地将水质表示为水量非常复杂。水质指数可以将几个变量综合为一个特定的值，可作为水质评估的管理工具。此外，该指数可以方便与公众和决策者进行沟通。本研究项目的主要目的是评估黎巴嫩南部一条相对较小的地中海河流休闲河段的水质指数，并描述其时空变异性。因此，在 2005 年至 2009 年的 5 年时间里，在旱季末期进行了评估。所估计的水质指数将 5 年期间各个地点的平均水质分类为良好。结果表明，达穆尔河的水质通常受到其流域内发生的人为活动的影响。上游地区的水质最好，河口地区的水质最差。高浓度粪大肠菌群的存在可能表明游泳者存在潜在的健康风险。本研究可用于支持管理、监管和监测决策的评估。
