PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE POPULATION IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KASSA, CONAKRY, REPUBLIC OF GUINEA

Abstract

This study focuses on the quality of drinking water in the neighborhoods of the municipality of Kassa.The lack of an adequate drinking water supply has a significant impact on the residents’ way of life and health. Our objective is to determine the potability of the water used by the island’s population by analyzing its physicochemical and bacteriological qualities. To this end, we conducted a field survey to identify potential sources of pollution, and then collected water samples for on-site and laboratory analysis. In the field, across the ten areas visited, samples were collected from thirteen wells, two boreholes, and one spring, due to the presence of water and their heavy use by the local population. The physicochemical analyses examined pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and levels of phosphates, total iron, nitrates, nitrites, suspended solids, total dissolved solids, sulfates, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. The bacteriological analyses, meanwhile, focused on total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci. According to our results, 68.13% of the water sources exhibit physical problems, 64.58% are chemically polluted, and 42.71% are affected by bacteriological problems. This study was conducted during the dry and rainy seasons of 2024. This study analyzes the quality of drinking water in various areas of the municipality of Kassa. It highlights the fact that an inadequate supply of drinking water has significant impacts on residents’ living conditions and health, thereby underscoring a major issue related to public health and community well-being.