Abstract: A study was conducted to assess the water quality of a manmade lake supplied with reclaimed water in Dubai. Tests were performed to determine whether or not microbiological and physico-chemical parameters complied with local standards. The microbiological properties tested were above local requirements. Those results reflect the potential occurrence of infectious agents in the water that could be a risk to public health in cases of direct or indirect contact with the water. To identify the possible causes of water impairment, physico-chemical parameters were assessed. The results showed that the majority of them including pH, temperature, conductivity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates were within the local standards for reclaimed water discharged into lakes, whether natural or artificial. However, total chlorine and free chlorine levels, which are indicators of chlorine residual concentrations in the water, were not within the local recommended range. 0.1 mg/L Cl2 of free chlorine was found in all samples, and total chlorine levels oscillated between 0.1 and 0.2 mg/L Cl2 while values for both parameters should vary between 1 and 2 mg/L Cl2. The low levels of chlorine residuals found in the lake seem to be correlated with the high concentrations of indicator bacteria. The dissipation of chlorine in the distribution systems transporting the reclaimed water from the wastewater treatment plants to the lake, which is the end point of use where the water is stored, probably favors the persistence and regrowth of pathogens in the reclaimed water.
Keywords: reclaimed water, water quality, microbiological parameters, physico-chemical parameters, lake, free chlorine, total chlorine.
Title: Assessment of Water Quality of a Manmade Lake in Dubai UAE
Author: Mohammad Armin, Aimina Ayoub, Ryan Sisson, Rami El Khatib
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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