Physicochemical and bacteriological quality assessment of spring waters in the Tetouan region (Morocco)

Résumé

The analysis of 16 physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of spring water in Tetouan city (Morocco) and its surroundings was conducted in order to establish its quality especially because they are used a lot by the population. Samples were collected from 29 stations during the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Three-way ANOVA (station, season, and year) was performed to analyse the variance according to station, season and year. The results of analysis showed spatial and seasonal variance. "Bonferroni" fit for a correlation network based on Pearson correlations showed strong correlations between calcium, TH, Sulphates, chlorides, TDS, Salinity, CT, CF, SF, and temperature. The PCA and its factorial map of the stations showed two different groups according to their physicochemical and bacteriological quality; the first group was formed by stations located in urban areas of Tetouan city with high level in TH, magnesium, calcium and sulphates; the second group was formed by stations located in rural areas with high level of nitrates and nitrites.