Study of microbial characteristics of well groundwater in the city of Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

This research investigated whether the well waters of Arar, a city located in the north of Saudi Arabia, are suitable for drinking and household uses.

Twenty well water samples were collected and analysed for coliforms and algae.

As for the bacteriological characteristics, the coliform bacteria, the total bacteria and Escherichia coli bacteria were found in 5%, while 95% of the wells were free from total coliform and E.

coli bacteria.

Three wells were detected to have water with very high bacterial counts that exceeded the maximum contamination levels set by World Health Organization (WHO) and Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO).

Algae were detected in four wells and the other wells were free from algae; the algae species detected were Amphora, Navicula, Green unicells, Nitzschia, Euglena Cyclotella, and Opephora.

In conclusion, the absence of total coliform and E.

coli bacteria in 95% of the wells indicates the permissibility of the use of well water in drinking and irrigation but that the remaining 5% may be used after appropriate treatment.