Impact of human anthropogenic activities on the water quality of the Bou Agba aquifer in the Sebou basin, Morocco

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the pollution risks affecting the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of the water in the Bou Agba aquifer based on WHO guidelines and identify the origin of any pollution. The physicochemical parameters of interest included temperature, pH, conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca 2+ ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), chlorides (Cl − ), sulfates (SO 4 2− ), bicarbonates (HCO 3 − ), nitrites (NO 2 − ), nitrates (NO 3 − ), and phosphates (PO 4 3− ). The microbiological criteria, meanwhile, included total germs (GT), total coliforms (CT), fecal coliforms (CF), and fecal streptococci (SF). These physicochemical and bacteriological variables were determined in 54 samples under the norms of that time. The physicochemical analysis indicated that 44.5% of the wells examined were most significantly affected by nitrates, in relation to drinking water quality. Bacteriologically, these waters were heavily contaminated by several fecal organisms for purposes of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli (68-88.9 per cent) and fecal streptococci (53.7%) in the entire samples taken. Human activities such as discharge of wastewaters, and agricultural practices may be the probable major sources of water pollution of Bou Agba aquiferwaters which are commonly used for human consumption.