BAMAS - 4.1 Surface water quality of the Litani Basin, Lebanon

Analysis results for surface water samples along the Litani River and its tributaries. More than 90 percent of water samples collected exhibited high levels of Total and Fecal Coliforms exceeding the Lebanese guidelines for domestic use. Ammonia levels exceeded acceptable standards in 54 percent of the samples. High BOD levels were also detected along several stretches of the river. While sulfate levels were acceptable all along the river, nitrate and phosphate levels exceeded recommended standards in 17 and 28 percent of the samples. Heavy metals were reported to be below the detection limits due probably to a dilution effect. More details on the surface water qualtiy are outlined in this section. (3.2.1 Surface Water - p. 20, 3.2.5 Water samples comparative assessment - p. 35, Appendix H. Lab analysis results - p. 112)