Vol. 1, Issue 12, Part L (2015)

Abstract
Sultanate of Oman has more than 4000 Aflaj spread in various regions in Oman (Ghrefat, et al., 2011) [9]. The present study investigates the physical and chemical parameters of water for four hot water Aflaj known as Aini Aflaj (Tourism, M., 2013) [16]. Aim was to assess their water quality for drinking and other possible purposes. The four Aflaj are Falaj Ain Al-Hammam Figure (1.1), Falaj Ain Ghala Figure (1.2), Falaj Ain Al-Kasfa Figure (1.3) and Falaj Ain Al-Thwarah Figure (1.4). Water samples were collected from the mouth of the Aflaj. The tests were conducted through four laboratories which are approved by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources Sultanate of Oman (MRM&WR); and instruments, i.e., Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) model: Perken Elmer Nexoin 300d, Ion Chromatography system model: Dionexics-2000, Memo Titrator and Dissolved Oxygen DO (analyzer) / Biological Oxygen Demand BOD meter model: Mettler Toledo model: Seven Excellence were used. The results were mainly compared using Gulf Corporation Council Standardization Organization GSO149:2014 [10]. It was noticed that these Aflaj contain slightly high concentration of Total Alkalinity, TDS and EC due to weathering process of limestone and gypsum. According to the GSO149:2014 [10] and Omani standards these waters are having other chemical and physical parameters less than the permissible limits of unbottled drinking water which indicate the quality of water is fairly good enough.