Microbiological quality of water in an urban wetland: Lake Echatt (wilaya of El-Oued, Algerian Sahara)
Abstract
I.E. Saker, A. Baaloudj*, H. Rizi, L. Bouaguel, A. Bouakkaz, S. Laabed, A. Kannat, I. Houhamdi, S. Seddik and M. Houhamdi
Regular monitoring of microbial density of Lake Echatt (Wilaya of El-Oued, Algerian Sahara) during the period from September 2019 to August 2020 revealed, on the one hand, a very abundant increase in the number (total germs, total coliforms, and fecal streptococci) during the hottest months (May, June, July, and August), probably due to the rise in temperatures reaching the optimal conditions for the growth of microorganisms. On the other hand, this water is very polluted presenting a very high fecal contamination index following direct discharges and without prior treatment of wastewater (rich in nitrates) from neighboring dwellings, mainly in site 1, which overloads this ecosystem through water renewal. At the level of these waters proliferate pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus) which can cause serious illnesses.