Bacteriological and Physico-chemical Analysis of Well Water from Villages in Edati, Niger State, North-central Nigeria

Abstract

The physico-chemical and bacteriological properties of water from hand-dug wells from villages in Edati communities was evaluated in this study. The water samples were analyzed in accordance with the standard procedures for water analysis. The results of the physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis revealed that all the parameters were below the maximum permissible limit for a safe drinking water recommended by Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality except iron, manganese, E.coli and total coliform whose concentration in some locations were higher than the acceptable limit. The high iron and bacterial coliform may be attributed to the shallow well depth, distance to pit latrine/soakaway, improper well construction, inadequate of well lining and land use system in the area. The results obtained indicates that the groundwater quality of Edati fall between the maximum permissible limit of NSDWQ. It is therefore recommended that provision of hand dug wells and boreholes in this area should not be in proximity with the pit-latrines, septic and dumpsites.