During the last four decades in Oman there has been a rapid increase in the population, construction of housing, heavy industry and also an increase in agri-culture. This rapid growth shows no signs of abatement. This has led to an ever in-crease in water demand. Based on these facts, the existing methods of sewage water treatment and chlorination process is not effective in eradicating microbial contami-nation. In this study, the reuse of sewage effluent was one of the major causes of un-derground water pollution. Cracked septic tanks, cesspits, fertilizers and recycled treated sewage effluent (TSE) also added to underground water pollution. Excessive use of underground water due to water shortage led to salinization of the wells. A to-tal of 276, 305 and 290 water-wells were sampled in 1995, 2000 and 2010 respec-tively for biological and physiochemical water contamination in Muscat, Oman. Relative to that, 300 samples of TSE were taken from four main sewage treatment plants (STPs). These samples were analyzed and compared with well-water samples. The analyses involved electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid (TDS), iron con-centration, heavy metals, trihalomethanes (THMs), nitrate NO3 and microbial con-tamination. The dominant heavy metals in wells and TSE were Ni and Zn. In well-water, NO3, TDS and microbial count were high. The above parameters declined significantly in 2010 because of heavy rain. Heavy metals, THMs and nitrates in some wells exceeded maximum permissible level even after the 2010 declined. Mul-tiple antibiotic resistant bacteria (MARBs) were tested for 16 antibiotics and were found in both TSE and well-water. Resistance of Escherichia coli to antibiotics var-ied and multiple resistance was 2-8 antibiotics. Presence of THMs and MARBs in well-water is an indication of sewage contamination. A frequent analysis and strin-gent regulations must be implemented to avoid further environmental deterioration. Agencies need to begin implementing strict regulations to help in the prevention of the spread of pollution and disease.
Real Time Impact Factor:
1.66667
Author Name: Saif N. Al-Bahry, Ibrahim Y. Mahmoud, Salma K. Al-Musharafi, Intisar S. Al-Gharibi, Nasra K. Al-Harthy, Halima A. Al-Zadjali
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Keywords: Well-water, Sewage effluents, Oman, Chemical pollutants, Antibiotic resistance
ISSN: 2187-0632
EISSN: 2187-0632
EOI/DOI:
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