RESUMO
A bacterial assessment of water supplies must be done in Egypt as in order to improve the quality of useable water. Saint Katherine, Southern Sinai, was selected as being a populated area where wells are the only source of water for the local population. During one year, water of seven wells in Wadi El-Shiekh were bactiologically studied (El-Arbaien, Haron, Eid, Zitona, Farhan, Sahab and Gofa). The pouring plate technique was used to estimate the total viable bacterial count (TVB). The most probable number (MPN) technique was used to estimate total coliform (TC) and fecal coliform (FC) bacterial count. A result indicates that Al-Arabaien well has the least count of TVB throughout the year of study, possibly because of to geologic nature, low content of salts, low pH value of the water of this well. Zitona and Eid gave relatively the highest counts of TVB. This might had been due to the way in which these well were used. Intermediate counts were recorded in other wells. TC counts reached their maximum in Gofa and Farhan in Autumn. Percentages of FC among the TC counts were higher also in Autum in five wells (Al-Arbaien, Haron, Zitona, Eid and Sahab). This might had had been due to the increased agricultural activities around these wells. TC counts reached their minimum in Zitona during Winter, Spring and Summer. Five families of bacteria were identified form water samples, namely: Bacillaceae, Streptococcaceae Micrococcaceae, Neisseriaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. The geological condition of each well, some meteorological factors, and inhabitants activities around the well were found to play an important role in variability of TVB, TC, and FC counts. It is suggested that the inhabitants be educated of the best and healthy ways of using water and the good healthy habits.
