PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF BOREHOLE WATERS IN ANINRI AWGU AND OJI RIVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Physicochemical  and bacteriological  analyses  of borehole  water  samples were randomly collected from ten boreholes which supply drinking water to various  communities  of Aninri,  Awgu  and  Oji River  Local  Government Areas of Enugu, Nigeria.  The boreholes were sampled in both dry and rainy seasons.   The  following  physicochemical   parameters:   pH,   temperature, colour, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, alkalinity, acidity, lead, copper, cadmium and iron were determined using standard methods.  E.  coli count was determined by membrane lauryl sulphate broth method. Results of physicochemical  tests  were  in  compliance  with  WHO  guideline  values, except in the cases of sulphate level of 1,670  mg/L in water sample from Mpu in Aninri L.G.A., high chloride levels in samples from Ndeaboh  and Mpu with values of 18,088  and 1,095  mg/L respectively.  Similarly,  sodium was also very high in the two boreholes, 5,625 and 8,500 mg/L. The water samples showed acid pH particularly in Oji River with values ranging from

4.30 to 6.30.  Most of the water samples were soft waters, except samples from Ndeaboh, Mpu and Mgbowo with hardness values of 6,250, 6,250 and

840  mg/L  respectively.   Trace  metal  concentrations  were  below  WHO guideline  values,  except  samples  from  Mgbowo  and Nnenwe  with  iron values of 4.54 and 3.13 mg/L. E.  coli was isolated in two boreholes located in unkept surroundings in Oduma and Agbogugu with E.  coli counts of 7 and  108  cfu/100  mL  respectively.   Generally,  the  borehole  waters  are considered  safe for drinking  except  these  ones polluted  with E.  coli and sodium chloride.  The effects  of unsafe drinking water are discussed, with recommendations  to the  Authorities  regarding  the  safety  measures  to be applied.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Water is one of the earth’s  most precious resources.  Water is often referred to as a universal solvent because it dissolves many minerals. It can exist in three states as liquid,  gas (at 100 C) and solid (at freezing temperature of<

4 C).  Water  is fundamentally  important  to all plants,  animals  including man’.  Without it, there is no life.  Good drinking water is not a luxury but one of the most essential amenities of life.  Although water is essential for human survival,  many are denied access to sufficient potable water supply and sufficient water to maintain basic hygiene.  Globally, over one billion people lack access to clean safe water.  The majority of these people are in  Asia  (20%)  and  sub-Sahara  Africa  (42%).  Further,  about  2.4  billion people lack adequate sanitation worldwide   .

It is estimated that > 80% of ill health in developing countries are water and sanitation-related”.  Thus,  lack  of safe  drinking  water  supply  and  poor hygienic practices due to lack of water are associated with high morbidity and mortality from excreta-related diseases.

Consequently, water-borne pathogens infect around 250 million people each year resulting in 10 to 20 million deaths world-wide.  An estimated 80% of all child  deaths under  the  age of five years  in developing  countries  result from diarrhoea diseases”

Lack of safe drinking water and inadequate  sanitation measures  could also lead  to  a  number  of diseases  such  as  dysentery,  cholera  and  typhoid” Against this backdrop,  the supply  of safe drinking water to all has been at the  front  burner  at  the  United  Nations  Millennium  Development   Goals (MDGs) to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development worldwide especially in developing countries.  Her target for water,  is to halve by 2015, the proportion  of people  without  sustainable  access  to  safe drinking water and basic  sanitation.  However,  it  is envisaged  that  this target  may  not be easy  in  developing  countries  because  of (a)  high  population  growth,  (b) conflict and political instability and (c) low priority given to water and sanitation programmes in developing countries.

1.1 Ground Water as Source of Portable Water.

Water exists in several forms in the environment  including sea water,  sea• ice,  fresh water,  and water  vapour  as clouds  and mist.  As water  moves through the environment it picks up gases and elements, flow to the sea and through ground in an endless process known as the hydrologic cycle.

The hydrological cycle ensures that water available on the earth is renewable as it passes through a cycle of evaporation,  condensation and ultimately back to water in an endless cycle.

Groundwater occurs  as part of the hydro logic cycle, which is the movement of water between  the earth and the atmosphere  through  evaporation, condensation,  transpiration  and precipitation.  The underground  area where water exists is referred to as an aquifer which is a layer of porous  substrate

that  contains  and transmits  groundwater”.   Therefore,  groundwater  when

properly harnessed will provide consistent supplies of potable water because it’s believed to be good.

1.2 Water pollution

Water pollution as defined by GESAMP (1988)   means “the  introduction by man directly or indirectly of substances  or energy which result in such harmful effects as

•   harm to living resources,

•   hazards to human health,

•   hindrance to aquatic activities including fishing,

•    impairment  of water  quality with respect to its  uses in agricultural, industrial and often economic activities, and

•   reduction of amenities”.

It can also be seen as anything whether physical or chemical that affects the natural condition or the intended use of water. It is clear that water pollution depends on the ultimate use to which the water in question will be put. In other words, water which might be considered not polluted or satisfactory for certain industrial use might very well be considered polluted or unsatisfactory for drinking.

With increasing population,  there is need for more water,  and groundwater has proved  the most reliable  resources  for meeting  dispersed  rural water demand  in sub-Saharan  Africa’.  However,  several practices  such  as the application  of fertilizers  and  agrochemicals,  abandoned  or  inactive  mine sites, septic tanks, landfill etc, if not managed effectively could contaminate and eventually pollute groundwater. The quality of water in boreholes is also affected by the presence of heavy metals in the soil such as Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr etc. There is also the problem of microbial pollution.

1.3 Study area

The study took place  in Aninri,  Awgu and Oji River  Local  Government

Areas  of Enugu  State, Nigeria.  These Local Government  Areas  make up

Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency. Geographically located within Latitude 05″° 55′ -06 20′ N and Longitude 07  10′-07″ 40’E. Aninri has clay and loamy flat lands;  Oji River has sandy flat lands, while Awgu has clay and stony lands with hilly topography. Petty trading and subsistence agriculture  are the  major  occupation  of the people.  There  is no  notable industry located in this area and its environs.

1.4 Statement of the Problem

•    In spite of various researches conducted on groundwater (boreholes), there is no published data available to determine the water quality of the boreholes in Aninri, Awgu and Oji River Local Government Areas of Enugu State.

•    No evidence of any form of maintenance  or any assessment carried out on the quality of water being pumped.

1.5 Aim and Objectives

This study was to determine the quality of water from boreholes in this area as to ascertain its safety for consumption in relation to standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water.

The objectives of this study are (i) to determine the quality of water from the boreholes  in  Aninri/Awgu/Oji  River  Local  Government  Areas  of Enugu state, Nigeria,  and (ii) provide  baseline  data  of determined  parameters  for future assessment.

The specific objectives were to:

•     Determine  the levels of these parameters  in the borehole  water:  pH, temperature, colour, odour, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity,  total  acidity,  total  alkalinity,  hardness,  So,,  PO,’,  CI, NO,, K,  Ca, Mg,  Cd, Cu, Pb and Fe.

•   Determine any significant seasonal variation on the parameters.

•   Access the level of bacteria contamination in the boreholes.

•    Compare the level of the parameters with WHO guideline values.

•     Ascertain the possible causes of any contaminations  in order to make appropriate recommendations to alleviate the problem.

1.6 Justification  of Study

Water supply sources for inhabitants of the Local Government Areas under study include,  supply  from water  tankers,  stored rain water,  streams  and borehole/well  waters.   However,  because  of population  and  urbanization,

boreholes  have become the major  sources of water supply  for drinking and for domestic uses in this area,  and water pumped out of these boreholes does not undergo  any form of treatment before  consumption, the possibilities  of contamination  from the service lines, feacal wastes,  storage tanks, anthropogenic or geochemistry of these areas justify this research.

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