IMPACT OF A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY ON WELLS WATERS IN BEIT LAHIA, GAZA STRIP

Abstract

The impact of the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) of Beit Lahia on wells water located 240 to 3000 meters in the vicinity of twenty wells surrounding the facility were evaluated for various bacteriological parameters (heterotrophic plate count, Total coliform, Fecal coliform, Fecal Streptococci, Salmonella species, Campylobacter species, Clostridium perfringens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Also several physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and chloride) have been studied. The effects of well depth, location and distance of wells with respect to the wastewater treatment facility on the level of water contamination were also investigated. Signs of contamination were encountered in many of the examined wells, and contamination was pronounced in wells located to the western region of the WWTF. Moreover, wells of lower depth and shorter distance from the WWTF showed higher contamination. The results indicate that the main source of contamination of the wells water in this region, is the WWTF.