Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Characterization of Groundwater from Banana Plantations in the Agnéby-Tiassa and Sud Comoé Regions of Côte d'Ivoire

In industrial plantations, groundwater is used as a source of drinking water, although it can be affected by contamination from agricultural activities. The aim of our study was to assess the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of groundwater from industrial plantations in the south of Côte d'Ivoire. The methodological approach consisted of an annual sampling campaign of water supply sources in four (04) plantations from 2016 to 2019 and the analytical approach consisted of determining the various physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters of these different water sources. The physico-chemical analysis used electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods, while the bacteriological analysis was based on the membrane filtration technology. The results showed that the water was characterized by: an average acid pH of 6.09, low mineralization (from 12.83 to 139.29 µS/cm), high iron values ranging from 0.5 to 3.2 mg/L (in 37% of the samples), organic matter ranging from 7.8 to 13.5 mg/L (30% of the samples), and aluminium and ammonium values of 0.3 to 1.1 mg/L and 1.75 to 6.75 mg/L respectively (26% of the samples). Contamination by germs indicative of faecal pollution was also observed in 30% of samples. In conclusion, these waters are of unsatisfactory quality and unfit for consumption. Measures to improve water quality in these plantations should be considered.