Study of the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water in the municipality of Toffo in Benin: Case of Sèhouè

Abstract

Abstract

Water, an essential resource for life and health, is both scarce and unevenly distributed on the planet. To this unequal distribution are added inequalities in the ability to mobilize this resource with a quality that guarantees full health to this community. This research aims to analyse quality (physico-chemical and bacteriological) of the water consumed by households in the district of Sèhouè in order to establish a causal relationship between this quality and the health problems observed in the communities. Field investigations and laboratory analyses have resulted in results that meet the above objective. The results showed that, from a physical point of view, surface waters have a more or less acidic pH and, from a chemical point of view, Traditional well water has nitrate and nitrite levels above the standard established in the Republic of Benin. In addition, the count germs found in all the waters tested are contaminated with faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. The high levels of nitrates, nitrite and pathogenic bacteria show that these waters are chemically and bacteriologically unfit for human consumption and require pre-treatment before consumption.