Evaluation of Water Quality from Suburban Shallow Wells Under Tropical Conditions According to the Seasonal Variation, Bumbu, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The contamination of freshwater resources with various organic and inorganic contaminants is still a major problem in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries in which the poor water quality continues to pose a serious threat to human health. In this study, the assessment of groundwater quality was performed in the municipality of Bumbu (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) according to the seasonal variation. Water physicochemical parameters [pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen and soluble ions (Na + , K + , PO 4 3− , SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , NO 2 − )] and faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) including Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Enterococcus (ENT) and Total coliforms (TC) were analysed. Except for EC and NO 3 − , the results revealed low concentration of other water physicochemical parameters, which are below the recommended limits, according to World Health Organization guideline for drinking water. Additionally, the result showed high concentration of FIB reaching the values of 1.6 × 10 4 , 1.5 × 10 4 and 9.0 × 10 5 CFU 100 mL −1 for E. coli , ENT and TC, respectively. The pollution was substantial in wet season compared to dry season. PCR amplification for human- Bacteroides indicated that more than 90 % of bacteria were from human origin. Our results highlight the potential human risk associated with the exposure to water contamination from wells due to the high level of NO 3 − , EC, E. coli and ENT in both dry and wet seasons. The approach developed in this study helps provide a better understanding of the physicochemical and microbiological pollution of wells in large cities characterized with lack of wastewater and sanitation facilities.