The precariousness of the rural population in Africa is often symbolized by the lack of potable and safe drinking water. This study investigates the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of 32 water samples with respect to WHO standards. The water samples were collected from wells, boreholes and small drinking water supply systems (DWS) in and around the township of Bonkoukou (Niger). The Water Quality Index (WQI) tool was used to assess the overall water quality with different physico-chemical parameters. Where the pH of the samples was acceptable, the samples showed higher levels of mineralization and deoxygenation. Overall, the samples were slightly hard, chlorinated and sulfated but much alkaline and contained nitrate and nitrite ions 2-16 times higher than the WHO standards. The use of WQI shows that samples in the DWS are safe for drinking. Samples coming from wells are the most polluted (58.50%) compared to those taken from boreholes (53.00%), while the percentage of samples from boreholes, unfit for drinking, is higher (41.00%) than that of the samples taken from wells (25.00%). Moreover, water in this area was characterized by the presence of total germs indicating bacteriological pollution. Hence, for the supply of safe drinking water to the larger number of people in such a rural area, the capacity of actual DWS must be improved and widespread.

中文翻译：

---

尼日尔西部农村地区地下水的理化和细菌学质量：以盆口口为例。

非洲农村人口的pre可危常常以缺乏饮用水和安全饮用水为标志。这项研究调查了32种水样品相对于WHO标准的理化和细菌学特征。水样是从Bonkoukou（尼日尔）乡镇及其周围的井，钻孔和小型饮用水供应系统（DWS）中收集的。水质指数（WQI）工具用于评估具有不同理化参数的整体水质。在样品的pH值可接受的情况下，样品显示出更高的矿化和脱氧水平。总体而言，样品略微坚硬，氯化和硫酸化，但呈碱性，并且所含的硝酸根和亚硝酸根离子比WHO标准高2-16倍。WQI的使用表明DWS中的样品可以安全饮用。与从井眼中采集的样品（53.00％）相比，井中样品污染最严重（58.50％），而不适合饮用的井眼样品的百分比（41.00％）比从井中采集的样品高（41.00％）（ 25.00％）。此外，该地区的水的特征是存在指示细菌污染的总细菌。因此，为了向这种农村地区的更多人提供安全的饮用水，必须提高和普及实际DWS的能力。该地区的水的特征是存在表明细菌污染的总细菌。因此，为了向这种农村地区的更多人提供安全的饮用水，必须提高和普及实际DWS的能力。该地区的水的特征是存在表明细菌污染的总细菌。因此，为了向这种农村地区的更多人提供安全的饮用水，必须提高和普及实际DWS的能力。