Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Oct;185(10):8733-47. doi: 10.1007/s10661-013-3208-1. Epub 2013 May 2.
The physicochemical characteristics of the Buffalo River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were evaluated using standard methods. The assessment was carried out with total of 72 water samples collected from six sites over a 12-month period, from August 2010 to July 2011. Water temperature ranged from 11 to 28 °C, while pH varied from 6.6 to 10.7 and turbidity from 1.7 to 133 NTU. Electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity showed drastic variations (42.3-46,693 μS/cm, 20.3-23,350 mg/l and 0.02-33.8 PSU, respectively) and the significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean values of these parameters recorded at Parkside reflect the influence of seawater at the Buffalo River estuary. The concentrations of other parameters ranged as follows: chloride (3.7-168 mg/l), DO (6.9-11.1), BOD (0.6-9.4), COD (3.7-45.9), nitrite-nitrogen (0.02-0.21), nitrate-nitrogen (1-4.47) and orthophosphate (0.01-1.72). There was a significant positive correlation between water temperature and DO (r = 0.200; P < 0.01). Significant (P < 0.01) positive correlations also existed between TDS and salinity (r = 0.921), COD and each of salinity (r = 0.398), TDS (r = 0.375) and chloride (r = 0.330), nitrate and phosphate (r = 0.323) and BOD and turbidity (r = 0.290). Significant (p < 0.01) inverse relationships existed between DO and each of phosphate (r = -0.295) and nitrate (r = -0.168). We conclude that the Buffalo River water quality deteriorated in the plains, compared with the upper reaches. Urgent measures are needed to safeguard the river in view of the potential health concerns as many households rely solely on the untreated river water.
采用标准方法评估了南非东开普省布法罗河的物理化学特性。该评估共采集了 72 个水样，采集时间为 2010 年 8 月至 2011 年 7 月的 12 个月内，来自六个地点。水温范围为 11 至 28°C，而 pH 值在 6.6 至 10.7 之间变化，浊度在 1.7 至 133 NTU 之间变化。电导率、总溶解固体 (TDS) 和盐度变化很大 (42.3-46，693μS/cm、20.3-23，350mg/l 和 0.02-33.8 PSU，分别)，布法罗河口公园侧记录的这些参数的均值明显较高 (P<0.05)，反映了海水对布法罗河河口的影响。其他参数的浓度范围如下:氯 (3.7-168mg/l)、溶解氧 (6.9-11.1)、BOD (0.6-9.4)、COD (3.7-45.9)、亚硝酸盐氮 (0.02-0.21)、硝酸盐氮 (1-4.47)和正磷酸盐 (0.01-1.72)。水温与溶解氧之间存在显著正相关关系 (r=0.200；P<0.01)。TDS 与盐度 (r=0.921)、COD 与盐度 (r=0.398)、TDS (r=0.375)和氯化物 (r=0.330)、硝酸盐和磷酸盐 (r=0.323)以及 BOD 和浊度 (r=0.290) 之间存在显著正相关关系 (P<0.01)。溶解氧与磷酸盐 (r=-0.295) 和硝酸盐 (r=-0.168) 之间存在显著负相关关系。我们得出的结论是，与上游相比，布法罗河平原的水质恶化了。鉴于许多家庭仅依赖未经处理的河水，需要采取紧急措施来保护这条河，以避免潜在的健康问题。
