Physicochemical Evaluation of the Upper Litani River Watershed, Lebanon

Table 1

Comparison of various drinking water guidelines.

Parameters	LIBNOR	EU standards	WHO standards
pH	6.5–8.5	6.5–9.0	No guideline
Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L)	500	No guideline	No guideline
Electrical Conductivity (μS/cm at 20°C)	No guideline	2,500	No guideline
Chloride (mg/L)	200	250	No guideline
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)	No guideline	No guideline	No guideline
Ammonia (mg/L)	No guideline	0.5	No guideline
Nitrate (mg/L)	45	50	50
Nitrite (mg/L)	0.05	0.5	3.0
Phosphate (mg/L)	1.35	No guideline	5.0
Sulphate (mg/L)	250	250	500