Quality Evaluation of of Hand Dug Wells Using Water Quality Index

Abstract

This research evaluates water quality from hand dug wells in Kubwa village in Abuja, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from five (5) hand-dug wells within Kubwa Village, and analysed for drinking ; Physical, chemical and biological parameter come from the analysis of ground water. Twenty six (26) parameters were analysed in each of the hand well using American Public Health Association (APHA) standard laboratory method. The parameters investigated included Turbidity, Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Chloride (CC), Fluoride(F), Zinc

(Zn), Nitrite (NOD, Bi-Carbonate (HC03), Sulphate (S04), Nitrate (N03), Dissolved Oxygen

(DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Chromium

(Cr), Iron (Fe), Alkalinity, Carbonate, Total Hardness(TH), Electrical Conductivity(EC), EColi and Total Coliform (TC). Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index method were used to obtain a single value for each well interpreted. An analyses of the results indicates that all water samples (WI, W2, W3, W4 and W5) were found to be unsuitable for drinking purpose using the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) as well as the World Ilealth Organisation (WHO) standards to calculate the WQI as their WQI values were all above 100. The range of percentage difference of water quality index (WQI) determined using NSDWQ and WHO standards for the same water samples were determined to be 159.23% to 313.23%. Therefore, it has been established that apart from laboratory investigation and comparison of values of parameter obtained tiom laboratory against set water quality standards and weighted arithlnetic water quality index is a good tool tor summarizing and communicating the overall quality oc given water