Drinking water quality in Libya: Survey results and expert opinions

-Report by: Bushra Al-Aqili

Benghazi, August 12, 2026 (LANA) – Data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for 2024-2025, conducted by the Statistics and Census Authority in cooperation with UNICEF, reveals a range of indicators related to drinking water in Libya, including the detection of E. coli bacteria in several samples included in the survey.

In analyzing this data, specialists explained to the Libyan News Agency that assessing the safety of drinking water depends on several factors, including the water source, the condition of the water networks, transportation and storage methods, as well as the level of compliance with health requirements at desalination, bottling, and reservoir plants.

Public Health Consultant Dr. Ali Al-Mabrouk Abu-Qrain points out that these factors require comprehensive monitoring. He explains that the proximity of some water wells to sewage wells in certain areas, the deterioration of parts of the water networks, and the intrusion of rainwater into them may be among the sources of contamination risks.

Abu Qrain added that household water tanks and water tankers also need regular cleaning and disinfection, noting the importance of monitoring desalination plants, water retailers, and bottling plants to ensure they meet health requirements.

He called for support for the maintenance of water networks and wells, enhanced oversight of water sources, desalination and bottling facilities, and transportation methods, as well as raising awareness about cleaning and disinfecting water tanks.

For his part, Mahmoud Al-Zaidi, Director of the Food and Drug Control Department in Benghazi, stated that the survey results need to be linked to the sources of the samples tested. He explained that licensed factories under the supervision of the Food and Drug Control Center operate according to health requirements, and their products undergo regulatory testing.

Al-Zaidi pointed out that some unofficial water sources may be a contributing factor to contamination risks, especially in areas lacking formal water and sewage networks. He explained that some citizens resort to digging water wells near sewage wells.

He pointed to the existence of unlicensed water purification plants and stations, as well as the use of tankers and reservoirs that, in some cases, do not meet the required standards. He stressed the importance of increasing reliance on official water sources and continuing oversight of water sources, desalination plants, bottling facilities, and transportation and storage methods.

According to the survey results, E. coli bacteria were detected in the drinking water of 46.4% of the surveyed households, compared to 45.6% in urban areas and 53.5% in rural areas. The percentage of those receiving water classified as part of safely managed water services reached 38%.

The bacteria were also detected in 32.8% of the bottled water samples included in the survey, with varying percentages across different regions. The percentage reached 91.9% in Sirte, 85.1% in Jufra, 72.4% in Al-Marj, 47.8% in Tripoli, and 11.9% in Benghazi.

Experts believe that monitoring these indicators requires continued periodic testing of drinking water sources, linking the results to the sources of the samples and the conditions under which they were obtained. This helps identify sources of pollution and take appropriate measures to mitigate it.

...(LANA)...