Characterization and evaluation of physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters in Palestinian schools: a case study from Central Hebron Directorate

Monitoring water quality in schools is of great importance for public health. In Palestine, assessing quality of schools water used for drinking and handwashing is a research demand to ensure meeting related water quality guidelines. This field study aimed at evaluating selected physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters in schools in Hebron Governorate of the West Bank. The research methodology based on field sampling, laboratory standardized testing and evaluation of the measurements based on permissible limits set by the Palestine Standard Institution (PSI) and the World Health Organization (WHO). In cooperation with the Ministries of Health and Education in Palestine, water samples were collected from 33 schools that covers 20% of the total number of schools in Central Hebron Directorate. Samples were tested for (1) physicochemical parameters including turbidity, total dissolved solids, pH, nitrate and free residual chlorine and (2) microbiological parameters including total coliforms and E. coli. The findings revealed that only 9% of the samples met drinking water quality standards for both WHO and PSI for all tested parameters. About 21% of the tested samples showed positive results for E. coli testing. These contaminations were associated with low concentrations of free residual chlorine as obtained in 91% of the samples. This issue is believed to happen due to inefficient chlorination treatment and cleaning of water storage tanks and hence technical and training actions are needed in this direction. Meanwhile, the other physiochemical parameters were in general within the allowable limits indicating no special actions are needed in these regards.