Determination of the Quality of Groundwater in Mankweng, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Using the Water Quality Index

Tsolanku Sidney Maliehe (), Nelisiwe Mavingo, Tlou Nelson Selepe, Peter Masoko, Frederick Mokibelo Mashao and Neville Nyamutswa
Additional contact information
Tsolanku Sidney Maliehe: Department of Water and Sanitation, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Nelisiwe Mavingo: Department of Water and Sanitation, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Tlou Nelson Selepe: Department of Water and Sanitation, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Peter Masoko: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Frederick Mokibelo Mashao: Department of Geography, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Neville Nyamutswa: Capricorn District Municipality, P.O. Box 4100, Polokwane 0727, South Africa

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: There is a lack of groundwater quality monitoring, especially in developing countries like South Africa. This study aimed to evaluate borehole water quality. Groundwater was analysed for pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDSs), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N), sulphate (SO 4 2− ), fluoride (F − ), chloride (Cl − ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), potassium (K + ), and sodium (Na + ) using a multi-parameter device, spectrophotometer, turbidity meter, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were quantified using the Colilert system. The water quality index (WQI) was calculated using the arithmetic weighting method. The parameters ranged as follows: pH (6.71–7.94), DO (2.19–7.79 mg/L), EC (379.67–1317.33 µS/cm), TDSs (190–659 mg/L), temperature (16.75–22.31 °C), turbidity (0.17–3.21 NTU), COD (9–50 mg/L), F − (0.17–2.09 mg/L), Cl − (36.1–184.55 mg/L), N (0.64–28.56 mg/L), SO 4 2− (27.18–112.13 mg/L), K + (1.71–21.77 mg/L), Ca 2+ (29.59–134.59 mg/L), Mg 2+ (16.72–110.78 mg/L), and Na + (38.52–170.63 mg/L). One borehole was polluted with E. coli (9 MPN/100 mL) and 25% were contaminated with coliforms beyond 10 MPN/100 mL. The WQI ranged from 50.430 to 190.220. The results underscore the importance of regular monitoring of groundwater.

Keywords: groundwater; water quality parameters; water quality index; microbial contamination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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