Authors : Mudinga Mudinga Daniel; Kangudia Kadima Moïse; Ngandote Mutemusa Archal; Kayembe Mputu John

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2khyc5w5

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jun700

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : This study was conducted in the Lutendele neighborhood of Mont-Ngafula Municipality, Kinshasa Province. Its objective was to assess the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of the water used for irrigating market garden crops in order to determine potential contamination risks and their potential impacts on consumer health. To this end, water samples were manually collected from two sampling points coded E1 and E2 in November 2024. In situ measurements of physicochemical parameters, including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen, were performed using a WTW multi-parameter probe. Bacteriological analyses consisted of the identification and quantification of Escherichia coli as an indicator bacterium of fecal pollution using the membrane culture method. The results obtained revealed the following average values for the overall parameters measured in situ: Temperature (in °C): 27.3 °C (E1) and 25.4 °C (E2). These values recorded during this study are slightly higher than the limit value (25 °C) set by the WHO guidelines. This slight thermal pollution can be explained by domestic wastewater discharge. pH: 4.98 (E1) to 5.42 (E2). All these average pH values recorded demonstrate that the waters studied are all acidic (pH < 7). This could be explained by the contribution of potentially acidic runoff water, which tends to lower the pH of the waters in the study environment. Dissolved oxygen (in mg/L): 4.52 (E1) to 7.36 (E2). These levels are all below the WHO guideline (≥10 mg/L) for surface water. There is therefore an oxygen deficit in the study environment, linked in part to the organic matter pollution present in these waters. Electrical conductivity (in μS cm−1): 15.58 (E1) and 28.5 (E2). In both samples, the electrical conductivity values recorded comply with the WHO standard, which sets the maximum conductivity value at 200 μS/cm for surface water. As for bacteriological analyses, average Escherichia coli concentrations of 23 (E1) and 50 (E2) were recorded in CFU/100 mL. These values, which do not comply with WHO standards for all surface water, whose normative requirement is (0 CFU/100 mL), indicate significant fecal pollution, which may be explained by the contribution of fecal contaminants carried by runoff water and by the insufficient hygiene measures (hygienic facilities) of the surrounding population. In summary, the results of this study indicate that the irrigation water used for market gardening in the Lutendele neighborhood, Mont-Ngafula Municipality, in the city of Kinshasa, is of poor quality with regard to both the physicochemical and microbiological parameters analyzed, and this is therefore intended as a warning to ensure and protect the health of consumers of market garden products.

Keywords : Market Gardening, Irrigation, Surface Water, Physicochemical, Bacteriological.

References :

1. Agassounon Djikpo Tchibozo M., Tadjou A., Anago D.G., Dovonou E.F., Ayi-Fanou L., 2014 Physicochemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water in the districts of the commune of Ketou in Benin. Microbiol. Ind. San. Environ 8: 187-207;
2. Akbar Jan F, Ishaq M, Khan S, Ihsanullah I, Ahmad I, Shakirullah. 2010. A comparative study of human health risks via consumption of food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil (Peshawar) and relatively clean water irrigated soil (lower Dir). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 179 (1-3): 612–621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.3.047;
3. Allagbe H, Aitchedji M, Yadouleton A. 2014. Genesis and development of urban market gardening in the Republic of Benin. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 7(1): 123–133. http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/ ;
4. A.M Nazal, Abdelsalam Tidjani, Yassine Doudoua, & Abdourahamane Balla (2017). Market gardening in urban and peri-urban areas: Case of the city of N’Djamena in Chad. JUNCO| Journal of Universities and international development cooperation, 1;
5. Amoah ID, Abubakari A, Stenstrom TA, Abaidoo RC, Seidu R. 2016. Contribution of Wastewater Irrigation to Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection among Vegetable Farmers in Kumasi, Ghana. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10: 112. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005161
6. Arborea S, Giannoccaro G, De Gennaro BC, Piccinni AF. 2017. Cost–Benefit Analysis of Wastewater Reuse in Puglia, Southern Italy. Water, 9 (175): 1–17. doi:10.3390/w9030175;
7. Atidegla SC, Agbossou EK. 2010. Chemical and Bacteriological Pollution of Groundwater from Irrigated Market Gardens in the Municipality of Grand-Popo: The Case of Nitrates and Fecal Bacteria. Int. J;
8. Barbe J., 1981. Phytoplankton Development in the Doubs River, Its Causes and Its Relationship with the Physicochemical Quality of the Water. Cited by Bennacer L. State Thesis Es-Science. Univ. Ibn Tofail; K
9. Bationon, Y. D. (2009). Climate change and market gardening. Master's thesis, University of Ouagadougou;
10. Bryan G.W., 1979. Bioaccumulation of marine pollutants. Phil. Trans. Re. Soc. Lond. B., 286: pp. 483–505;
11. Converse R.R., Blackwood A.D., Kirs M., Griffith J.F., Noble R.T., 2009. Rapid QPCR-based assay for fecal Bacteroides spp. as a tool for assessing fecal contamination in recreational waters. Water Res. 43, pp. 4828–4837;
12. Deguénon, M. A. (2019). Health and environmental risks associated with the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in vegetable growing in the commune of Seme-Podji. Master's thesis in Risk and Disaster Management, University of Abomey-Calavi;
13. Duchauffour P., 1995. – Pedology, soil, vegetation, environment, 4th edition. Paris abstracts: Masson, p. 324;
14. Dussart G.B.J., 1966. – Limnology: the study of running water. Herman, Paris, p. 250;
15. Ghommid, M. C. (2023-2024). Contribution to the study of fungal diseases of market garden crops in the El Menia region. Thesis, University of Ghardaïa;
16. Luvuezo tshimpaka Divine (2023), Assessment of the Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Groundwater (Boreholes, Wells, Springs) in the Lutendele Neighborhood in the Municipality of Mont-Ngafula, Dissertation, UPN;
17. Merhabi et al., 2019. Contamination by Persistent and Emerging Organic Pollutants: A Case Study: the Kadicha River, Thesis
18. Mudinga MD, Mbompongi BE, Bakaka BF, Palabina GC, Seki KT, Ngandote MA (2024), Physicochemical Assessment of the Quality of Sewage Sludge from the Lukaya Water Treatment Plant in Mont-Ngafula, DR Congo, article, Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources, 7p.
19. Mudinga MD., Ngandote MA., John MK., S2raphin NL., Emmanuel KA., Fernando PC., John P (2024), Ecotoxicological and Microbiological Risk Assessment of Groundwater from Dimba Cave, Democratic Republic of the Congo, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17p.
20. N'Da Tido, C. A., Sanni, M. A., & Agossou, H. (2023). Characteristics of market gardeners, physicochemical and bacteriological assessment of the quality of irrigation and water from market gardening production sites in Parakou, northern Benin. Journal of Space, Territories, Societies and Health, 6(11), pp. 181-196. https://www.retssa-ci.com (Art);
21. Ndiaye, M. L. (2009). Health Impacts of Irrigation Water from Urban Agriculture in Dakar (Senegal). Thesis, University of Geneva;
22. Onil, S., St-Laurent, L., Valcke, M., Chapados, M., Levasseur, M.-E. (2019). The Health Risks of Pesticides: Actions to Reduce Their Impacts. Dissertation. National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ);
23. Ramdani, A., & Afifi, S. (2022). Assessment of the Physicochemical Quality of Water Used for Irrigation and its Impact on the Soil: The Case of the BouriACHI Farm (Bouchegouf, Northeastern Algeria). Master's Thesis, University of Guelma;
24. Samira Ounoki (2015), Assessment of the Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Raw and Treated Wastewater from the City of Ouargla. Potential use of their use in irrigation, master's thesis;
25. Scott T.M., Jenkins T.M., Lukasik J., Rose J.B., 2005. Potential use of a host-associated molecular marker in Enterococcus faecium as an index of human fecal pollution. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, pp. 283–287;
26. Tiamiyou, I. (1995). Consulting mission in market gardening phytotechnology from July 30 to August 12, 1995. Phase 1 report