TITLE:
Level of Bacteriological and Physicochemical Pollution of Surface Waters in Rural Area: The Case of Mbankomo Municipality (Center Region, Cameroon)
AUTHORS:
Vanelle Lontchi Segnou, Blandine Pulchérie Tamatcho Kweyang, Ernest Koji, Siméon Tchakonte, Murielle Patricia Mabou Tokam, Olive Vivien Noah Ewoti, Fils Mamert Onana, Ornella Eunice Wandji Kweya, Antoine Tamsa Arfao
KEYWORDS:
Bacteriological Quality, Physicochemical Parameters, Surface Waters, Organic Pollution Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.3,
March
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: A study
aimed at evaluating the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of surface
water was therefore carried out in a few watercourses in the municipality of
Mbankomo, located in the Center Region (Cameroon). The physico-chemical
parameters were measured according to the standard method. The organic
pollution index (OPI) was determined from the contents of nitrates, phosphates,
and ammoniacal nitrogen to characterize the level of organic pollution of the
water. The microorganisms sought were total flora, indicators of faecal
contamination like total coliforms, faecal coliforms, feacal streptococci and Escherichia coli, as well as the species Clostridium perfringens. The organic pollution index indicates a high-level organic pollution
level during the small rainy season and high to moderate during the small dry
season. High concentrations of the total and fecal coliforms, streptococci
fecal, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens respectively of 1712 × 105 CFU/100mL; 82 × 105 CFU/100mL; 10 × 105 CFU/100mL; 27 ×
105 and 40 × 103 CFU/100mL, all higher than WHO
standards, indicate that the waterways of Mbankomo are subject to feacal
pollution and harbor pathogenic microflora. The cell densities of main bacteria
were significantly correlated with main abiotic parameters, such as Escherichia coli, which was significantly
correlated with the pH of the water (r = 0.35; p