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Physico-Chemical and Microbial Analysis of Selected Borehole Water in Mahikeng, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Lobina Palamuleni

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Mafikeng Campus, North West University, Private bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mercy Akoth

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Mafikeng Campus, North West University, Private bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Groundwater is generally considered a “safe source” of drinking water because it is abstracted with low microbial load with little need for treatment before drinking. However, groundwater resources are commonly vulnerable to pollution, which may degrade their quality. An assessment of microbial and physicochemical qualities of borehole water in the rural environs of Mahikeng town, South Africa, was carried out. The study aimed at determining levels of physicochemical (temperature, pH, turbidity and nitrate) and bacteriological (both faecal and total coliform bacteria) contaminants in drinking water using standard microbiology methods. Furthermore, identities of isolates were determined using the API 20E assay. Results were compared with World Health Organisation (WHO) and Department of Water Affairs (DWAF-SA) water quality drinking standards. All analyses for physicochemical parameters were within acceptable limits except for turbidity while microbial loads during spring were higher than the WHO and DWAF thresholds. The detection of Escherichia coli , Salmonella and Klebsiella species in borehole water that was intended for human consumption suggests that water from these sources may pose severe health risks to consumers and is unsuitable for direct human consumption without treatment. The study recommends mobilisation of onsite treatment interventions to protect the households from further possible consequences of using the water.

Suggested Citation

  • Lobina Palamuleni & Mercy Akoth, 2015. "Physico-Chemical and Microbial Analysis of Selected Borehole Water in Mahikeng, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:8:p:8619-8630:d:53044
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. John Ogony Odiyo & Rachel Makungo, 2018. "Chemical and Microbial Quality of Groundwater in Siloam Village, Implications to Human Health and Sources of Contamination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Natasha Potgieter & Simbarashe Karambwe & Lutendo Sylvia Mudau & Tobias Barnard & Afsatou Traore, 2020. "Human Enteric Pathogens in Eight Rivers Used as Rural Household Drinking Water Sources in the Northern Region of South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Akebe Luther King Abia & Lisa Schaefer & Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa & Wouter Le Roux, 2017. "Abundance of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence-Associated Genes in Well and Borehole Water Used for Domestic Purposes in a Peri-Urban Community of South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Ranju Kumari Rathour & Deepak Sakhuja & Arvind Kumar Bhatt & Ravi Kant Bhatia, 2022. "Municipal Wastewater Connection for Water Crisis and Jaundice Outbreaks in Shimla City: Present Findings and Future Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.

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