| Abstrakt: |
Water is the most important element of life. Ensuring its quality and drinkability is the most important challenge worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of 10 water samples from the feed water storage tank of a dairy unit located in Bechar (South-West of Algeria). The obtained results show that the analyzed physicochemical parameters, namely: pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, fluoride, sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate contents meet the thresholds set by national regulations. However, all the analyzed water samples had an oxidizable organic matter content (OOM) of 5,6 to 28,8mgO2/L exceeding the standard, with a total suspended solids rate (TSS) ranging from 43,81 to 50,19%. The total hardness results indicate that samples were hard with a TH ranging from 30 to 115°f. The bacteriological analysis showed that 5 and 3 samples out of all the analyzed samples were contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sulfite-reducing Clostridia, while the two samples (S9 and S1) were contaminated with total coliforms and fecal coliforms. A rate of 60% of the analyzed samples had a TAMF load ranging from 1,84 to 4,32 Log10 CFU/mL at 30°C. However, all samples were Salmonella spp and Enterococci spp-free. The identification of the isolated bacterial species was as follows: Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Chromobacterium violaceum, Escherichia vulneris, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterobacter amnigenus. High values of OOM and TSS, as well as 50% of the analyzed water samples contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa considered an opportunistic contaminant in water, makes the quality of the water tank questionable. This is probably due to unsafe storage. As a result, safe storage and handling of water at the point of use is much needed to provide safe, food-grade water on an industrial scale, and therefore prevent the transmission of waterborne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
