ASSESSMENT OF WELL WATER QUALITY IN ABAKALIKI URBAN AREA, EBONYI STATE, SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Water scarcity is one of the main characteristics of the study area and has enabled dependence on well water for most of the domestic water needs in the urban area. The aim of this study is to assess the well water quality in Abakaliki Urban Area, Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria. The objectives of the study include to determine the physicochemical parameters of well water quality in the study area. The study employed experimental research design. The population of the study comprises of ten (10) wells located in five (5) areas in Abakaliki urban areas with distance of 500m apart each well. The sample size was determined to be ten (10) wells for the eleven (11) selected physiochemical parameters, five (5) heavy metals and two (2) microbial parameters. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result shows a significant discernable spread pattern in the characteristics of well water pollutants in Abakaliki urban areas. The physicochemical properties in well water such as temperature which ranges from (26.25 ±2.47OC - 29.50± 2.47OC ) is within the ambient temperature range(25OC – 35oC )stipulated by the WHO, The mean Ph values of the studied well samples ranged from 6.00± 0.30 – 6.51± 0.01 which is lower than acceptable limits of WHO standard, total dissolved solid(TDS) which is 40.00± 0.00 mg/l -350.0 ±381.8 mg/l, total solid(TS)120.0± 0.00 mg/l -470.0± 466.69 mg/l, Total suspended solid(TSS) ranged from 80.0 ±0.00 mg/l – 130.0 ±14.14 mg/l were within the WHO acceptable limits whereas values reports for TSS was higher than the WHO acceptable limits. Chloride ranged from 27.30± 1.17mg/l -77.78±25.75 mg/l, Nitrate 1.21± 0.36mg/l -1.77±0.08mg/l, Sulphate (17.66±0.08mg/l -55.39±11.79mg/l and Dissolved oxygen (DO)4.60 ±1.69 mg/l -5.60 ±2.26 mg/l were analyzed and found to be generally below the recommended limits of World Health Organization (WHO). on the other hand, parameter such as electrical conductivity which ranges from 149100 ± 12445.08µ cm-1 -491000 ±59396.97 µ cm-1 which can be seen to be significantly higher than both National standard for drinking water and WHO acceptable limits. Total Hardness TS ranged from 290.5 ±170.41mg/l – 780.0± 466mg/l is higher than the recommended limits of WHO. Microbial analyses revealed that the total coliform which ranged from 7200 ±1697.05cfu/ml – 45500± 16263.46cfu/ml and E-coli counts which ranged from 2000 0.00cfu/ml – 25500 6363.96 cfu/ml were found to be significantly higher than the WHO tolerable limit (≤ 20 cfu/ml) in all sampling locations. All heavy metals analyzed such as lead Pb 0.003± 0.00mg/l – 0.050.0.07mg/l, chromium Cr ranged from N.D -0.001± 0.00 mg/l, cadmium Cd ranged from 0.001 ±0.00 mg/l – 0.003 ±0.00 mg/l, cobalt Co ranged from N.D -0.001±0.00 mg/l, Nickel Ni ranged from N.D – 0.002± 0.00 mg/l, were found to be within the recommended limits. Because of the presence of high Coliform and E-coli counts suggests that the well water is contaminated and not safe for drinking. The well water is not recommended for domestic purpose without prior treatment. In addition, the high levels of Coliform and E-coli bacteria may pose health hazards to people using the well water. The study will contribute in making Government committing itself towards sponsoring water management initiatives such as regular monitoring of well water quality, proper management of domestic and industrial waste and waste water, sensitization of communities about water borne infectious diseases. The results from the analysis can be used by Ebonyi state ministry of water resources for recommendation of water treatment in areas that exceed the world health organization (WHO) and National standard for drinking water (NSDW) standard limit.