Evaluation of physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of water springs by using a principal component analysis (PCA): A case study of Tingitane Peninsula (Morocco)

Water is a renewable resource constantly threatened by pollution,among others,demographic backgrounds,agricultural and industrial factors. access to safe drinking water is a prerequisite for health,a basic human right and a key component of effective health protection policy. hence,comes the need to consider a physico-chemical and bacteriological study to assess the quality of these sources using a principal components analysis (pca). analysis of 25 sources at the level of the groundwater table of tingitane peninsula was performed in those sources located in rural areas; after a monthly sampling and selection of specimen during the whole year 2014. the principal component analysis (pca) carried out,using the medium values for each parameter,showed highly differentiated source groups: groups gather sources with moderate to good water quality and others contain contaminated sources. the results of our study are divided into two types: the physicochemical results show that most studied sources are considered acceptable to good quality according to standard 03.7.001 moroccan,2006. bacteriological results showed microbial contamination observed for the majority of sources from runoff and domestic and industrial wastewater. the use of this water resource could be risky for the health of people who use these sources for their needs of water.