DRINKING WATER BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS: A CASE STUDY OF RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWEST SINAI, EGYPT

Authors

1 Institute of Environmental Studies, Arish University

2 Soil fertility and Microbiology Department, Desert Research Center

3 Ministry Agric. and Land Reclam., Egypt.

4 Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University

Abstract

This study was carried out in the countryside areas of Romana district, Northwest Sinai, Egypt, to assess the biological and chemical quality of the drinking water. Eighty water samples were collected from 13 rural locations and subjected to be analysed for different biological and chemical characteristics. The results showed that coliform bacteria were undetectable reflecting clean water from coli bacteria in all studied samples. However, samples collected from Al Karama and Al Salam Villages showed high amounts of total number of bacteria. Values of water pH, Electrical conductivity and dissolved organic matter showed suitability of the drinking water for human use according to published permissible limits. All water samples were in the safe zone according to the limits of WHO with some exceptions, in term of heavy metals contents. Cd in all samples, Pb in almost 54% of samples exceeded the drinking water limits of WHO. Water quality index showed that all drinking water were excellent for human use except samples taken from Qatia which characterized by a relative lower quality. The author emphasized that Cd was excluded from water quality index assessment as it needs further research work to confirm its high concentration in the drinking water samples.

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