Abstract
In 9 districts of Qena governorate, Egypt, groundwater is used for human consumption. This study was carried out to evaluate the quality of these water sources. In each district, 2 wells were sampled in different seasons and physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were determined and compared with the Egyptian standards. All the tested wells had problems in physico-chemical or microbiological parameters or both. The overall seasonal magnitude of pollution was as follows: winter (45.5%) > spring (27.3%) > autumn (18.2%) > summer (9%). Permanent pollutants (pronounced in all seasons) were only physico-chemical mainly in Mn and iron. High percentages of bacterial pollutants, within wells and districts, were recorded. The highest values (for all parameters) within districts were total bacteria at 22, 35°C and total coli (88.9% for both), turbidity (66.8%), magnesium hardness, iron and manganese (66.7%), fecal streptococci (55.6%) and fecal coli (44.4%). Within the tested wells, the highest problems were total bacteria at 35 (72.2%) and at 22°C (66.7%), total coliform (61.1%) and manganese (55.6%). It is recommended to stop using these polluted sources for human consumption and to search for alternative high quality water sources or to start programs for treatment of the irreplaceable current sources.
Key words: Drinking water quality, physico-chemical parameters, microbiological quality, potable groundwater.
