Water quality in a Syrian refugee camp in North Lebanon, Akkar : assessment and solutions

Abstract

Ever since the beginning of the Syrian war, Lebanon has been one of the main hosting countries for refugees. Syrian influxes fleeing settlements in Lebanon induced a sharp alteration in population accompanied by a subsequent boost in demands for resources, essentially water. However, Lebanons infrastructure and underground water resources, undermined by decades of over pumping and lack of maintenance, are incapable of coping with the sudden ascend in water demands. Refugees in Lebanon are therefore highly prone to suffer water scarcity, provoking a serious need for water assessment and solutions. The target of the study is to help NGOs and humanitarian agencies, who are partners in this project, for evaluating the quality of water in Akkar governorate to provide refugees with safe drinking water. Water sampling is conducted among approximately 400 localities for a year starting September 2018, based on predetermined locations and strategies for sampling, preservation and transportation. Water evaluation involves physical testing using the HORIBA multiparameter water checker model U-52, ions analysis using the Ion Chromatography, and Membrane Filtration for total coliform testing. Furthermore, heavy metals are analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) following EPA method 200-8. The results are illustrated and analysed statistically by using the geographical information systems (GIS), thus producing decisive maps in terms of water quality of each studied sampling sites. By analysing the resulting maps, the severity of water pollution was assessed within each parameter, allowing the determination of vulnerable wells and localitie. Finally, the data from this research can help support humanitarian NGOs and charitable associations bring about improved environmental services to promote the daily living of refugees.