Physicochemical and microbial assessment of spring water quality for drinking supply in Piedmont of B éni-Mellal Atlas (Morocco)

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2018 Source:Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C Author(s): Ahmed Barakat, Redouane Meddah, Mustapha Afdali, Fatima Touhami The present study was conducted to examine the water quality of karst springs located along the Piedmont of Béni-Mellal Atlas (Morocco) for drinking purposes. Twenty-five water samples were collected from seven springs in June, July, August and September 2013, and May 2016 have been analyzed for their physicochemical and microbial characteristics. The analytical data of temperature, pH, DO, TAC, TH, oxidizability and NH4 + showed that all sampled springs are suitable as drinking water according to Moroccan and the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Nevertheless, EC, turbidity, and NO3 − were sometimes noted higher than the allowable limits, what would be ascribed to erosion and leaching of soil and karstic rocks. The microbial analysis revealed the presence of fecal contamination (total coliforms, E. coli, and intestinal enterococci) in all springs at various times. The water quality index (WQI) calculated based on physicochemical and microbial data reveled that water quality categorization for all sampling springs was found to be ‘medium’ to ‘good’ for drinking uses in the National Sanitation Foundation WQI (NSF-WQI), and ‘‘necessary treatment becoming more extensive’’ to ‘‘purification not necessary’’ in the Dinius' Second Index (D-WQI). The Aine Asserdoun...
Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts ABC - Category: Science Source Type: research