Hygienic quality and physicochemical characterization of Moulay Yacoub thermal therapeutic water of Fez region (Morocco)

The hydrothermal complex of Moulay Yacoub is located in the north center of Morocco. It is well-known for its large therapeutic benefits and is the most visited thermal station by Moroccans and foreign tourists. To determine the physicochemical composition and to assess the hygienic quality of these thermal waters, the water of the source and on others three points of use was studied monthly, from June 2009 to June 2010. The results of this study showed that these waters are characterized by high temperature (53.13 °C) and high values of the sodium (>1000 mg.L−1), chlorides (17440 mg.L−1) and calcium (1058 mg.L−1). This study demonstrates also that the water of the source is free from bacterial contamination, including Legionella. However, different rates of contamination were detected in the waters at several points of use (women pool, mixed pool), which are associated to visitor activities. The physicochemical characteristics and mineral composition of these thermomineral waters explain the benefit effect associated to its use in the therapy of some pathologies. The use of thermal water from the source is not associated to any risk of bacterial contamination. However, hygiene precautions must be applied and imposed to curists, in order to improve the hygienic quality of the water in different points of use