Public cemeteries are potential sources of contamination by groundwater pathogens. Many settlements in Yemen are located near cemeteries, and rely on groundwater for consumption. However, no information is available on the effect of cemeteries on groundwater quality in Yemen. Therefore, this study, which is the first of its kind in Yemen, aimed to assess the bacteriological and physiochemical quality of groundwater from four wells in proximity to the Al Amody cemetery in Dhamar city, Yemen, with a focus on evaluating potential contamination risks to local communities relying on untreated well water. Water samples were analyzed for total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (HPC), total coliforms, E. coli, fecal indicators, and a range of pathogenic bacteria, along with physicochemical parameters, including pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC). Results revealed severe microbial contamination in wells closest to the cemetery, particularly Well 1 (5 m from the site), where HPC and multiple bacterial indicators—including total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli , Salmonella spp., Vibrio cholerae , Proteus spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa —were present at "too numer- ous to count" (TNTC) levels, far exceeding WHO and Yemen standards. Wells 2 (147 m distance) and 3 (323 m distance) showed moderate contamination, with E. coli detected at 55 CFU/mL and 17 CFU/mL, respectively, whereas all bacterial groups were absent in the control well (Well 4, 1,169 m away). Physicochemical analysis indicated TDS and EC levels below the Yemen standard limit (1500 mg/L), although two wells exceeded the WHO guideline (1000 mg/L); pH (7.6–8.3) and temperature (20–28 Â °C) remained within acceptable ranges. These findings confirm that groundwater near cemeteries in areas with permeable soils and high water tables is highly vulnerable to fecal and pathogenic contamination, posing significant public health risks.
![The main types of aquifers, Barkmann et al., [18 ]](https://journals.su.edu.ye/public/journals/5/submission_2113_2113_coverImage_en_US.png)
