Assessment of the water quality of Oued El Kell by physicochemical and bacteriological approach

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems continue to be threatened and the impacts of anthropization on biodiversity and human health are unprecedented following untreated wastewater discharges. Our study consists of the analysis of organic pollution parameters (dissolved oxygen, forms of nitrogen, ortho phosphates, and COD) and microbiological indicators of faecal pollution of the waters of Oued El Khell. The latter receives municipal and domestic wastewater from the Ain Salma tourist complex that is poured directly onto the bed of Oued Bou-Iddar tributary of Oued el Kell that is use for the irrigation of vegetable crops. The results obtained show that the water from the study stations is classified as municipal wastewater after biological purification since the COD value varies between 80 and 100 mg / L. The Organic Pollution Index (OPI) shows the waters’ quality of stations sampled from a bacteriological point of view, the ratio (R: FC / FS) total coliforms (CF) and faecal streptococci (SF) show that the origin of faecal contamination is animal and human with a human predominance for S1 and S3 and human origin for station S2. According to Moroccan standards, the waters of the study are not suitable for irrigation and can affect human health.