Assessment of the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of oueds Fez and Sebou downstream of Fez after the launch of the wastewater treatment plant: impact on health, Morocco

The main objectives of this study is to assess the quality of surface waters in oued fez and sebou river downstream the city of fez, to see the impact on health of the wastewater treatment plant (wwtp) subsequently to his launching . the results of the study show that the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of the different sites from where the samples were taken does not always correspond to moroccan surface water standards. on the contrary, sampling sites in downstream of the wastewater treatment plant are slightly close to meeting those standards. nevertheless, oued fez surface water prior to wwtp and sebou river downstream from the confluence are chemically and bacteriologically contaminated. they are characterized by high turbidity, high content in suspended substances, namely nitrites and orthophosphates, and high microbial contamination by fecal coliforms fc, escherichia coli ec and intestinal enterococci ie. it is clear that oued fez and sebou river have both been exposed to anthropogenic hazards. the use of water derived from these water courses or from wells in the area may expose local population to serious health threats, due to numerous water uses, which requires more interest and further studies.