Temporal Variations in Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Mvudi River, South Africa

Abstract

Surface water has been a source of domestic water due to shortage of potable water in most rural areas. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of contamination of Mvudi River in South Africa by measuring turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, concentrations of nitrate, fluoride, chloride, and sulphate. E. coli and Enterococci were analysed using membrane filtration technique. Average pH, EC and Turbidity values were in the range of 7.2–7.7, 10.5–16.1 mS/m and 1.3–437.5 NTU, respectively. The mean concentrations of fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulphate for both the wet and the dry seasons were 0.11 mg/L and 0.27 mg/L, 9.35 mg/L and 14.82 mg/L, 3.25 mg/L and 6.87 mg/L, 3.24 mg/L and 0.70 mg/L, respectively. E. coli and Enterococci counts for both the wet and the dry seasons were 4.81 × 103 (log = 3.68) and 5.22 × 103 (log = 3.72), 3.4 × 103 (log = 3.53) and 1.22 × 103 (log = 3.09), per 100 mL of water, respectively. The count of E. coli for both seasons did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) but Enterococci count varied significantly (p < 0.001). All the physico-chemical parameters obtained were within the recommended guidelines of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry of South Africa and the World Health Organization for domestic and recreational water use for both seasons except turbidity and nitrates. The microbiological parameters exceeded the established guidelines. Mvudi River is contaminated with faecal organisms and should not be used for domestic purposes without proper treatment so as to mitigate the threat it poses to public health.

A survey on microbial quality and antibiotic resistance in Karoon River, Khuzestan, Iran

“…Chaurasia and Tiwari (2011) in a study on the water quality on Rapti River in India reported that due to discharge of sugar factories wastewater into this river, the water quality was reduced (Chaurasia and Tiwari 2011). Edokpayi et al (2015) evaluated the water quality of Mvudi River in South Africa and compared the bacterial count in two dry and wet seasons. Their results showed that there was no significant difference in E. coli number between two seasons (Edokpayi et al 2015).…”

“…Edokpayi et al (2015) evaluated the water quality of Mvudi River in South Africa and compared the bacterial count in two dry and wet seasons. Their results showed that there was no significant difference in E. coli number between two seasons (Edokpayi et al 2015). Similarly, in the present study, there was no significant difference between four seasons in case of E. coli count.…”

Assessment of Trace Metals Contamination of Surface Water and Sediment: A Case Study of Mvudi River, South Africa

“…It falls in the Lowveld of Limpopo Province, which forms part of the greater Limpopo River Basin with an elevation of 546 m above sea level [18,19]. It has a semi-arid climate, which is classified as humid subtropical with a subtropical dry forest biozone.…”

Challenges to Sustainable Safe Drinking Water: A Case Study of Water Quality and Use across Seasons in Rural Communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…A report by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research clearly showed that almost 2.11 million people in South Africa lack access to any safe water infrastructure. The consumption of water from such unimproved sources without treatment constitutes a major public health risk [26].…”