Microbiological and Physicochemical Evaluation of Groundwater in Egypt

Abstract

Groundwater represents significant source of fresh water for irrigation and drinking purposes and therefore preserving the availability and quality of this resource is extremely important. Groundwater could be chemically, physically, or microbiologically contaminated. Each of which is linked to various sources and health related problems and consequences. This study was performed to evaluate some private groundwater wells in El-Rhawy (10 wells) and Manshiat Radwan (7 wells) regions, Giza governorate, Egypt. Total viable bacterial counts, total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC) and fecal streptococci (FS), as bacterial indicators, were examined. Ammonia, nitrates, sulphate, iron, total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, total hardness (CaCO3), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, temperature, electric conductivity (EC) and turbidity were measured as physicochemical parameters of these wells. Results of the present study showed that 11 wells were not suitable for drinking since they showed high total viable bacterial counts (>50 CFU mL-1) and the presence of TC, FC and FS, and some wells showed high concentrations of ammonia (n=16), iron (n=15), turbidity (n=11) that exceeds the permissible limits of the Egyptian standards for drinking water, 2007. Thus, the contaminated groundwater wells must be treated and disinfected before usage for drinking or human consumptions