Quality Assessment of Water from some Hand Dug, Ringed and Covered Water Wells from some Private Households in Falegan Area of Ado Ekiti (Ekiti State, Nigeria) Metropolis

Abstract

Water is one of the indispensable resources for the continued existence of all living organisms. The provision of an adequate supply of safe drinking water is a global priority. This study investigated some physicochemical, elemental and microbial properties of water from some hand dug, ringed and covered water wells in 10 (Ten) different private households at Falegan area of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The water samples were analysed for pH, temperature, hardness, total solids, ammonia nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, some minerals elements, total plate count and coliform count.

pH of the well water samples ranged from 6.8-7.2 while the temperature was 25-27⁰C. The samples odour and taste were unobjectionable while the colour was 5.0 NTU. Dissolved oxygen was 129-143 mg/l, total solids 146-216 mg/l. Total alkalinity was 07-21 mg/l and chloride content was 54– 98 mg/l. Ammoniacal nitrogen was not detected in the water samples and total acidity was 12-21 mg/l.

Results of microbial analysis indicated that there was no gas producing organism in any of the water samples, coliform bacteria was not detected, while total plate count ranged between 2-4 cfu/ml.

Elemental analysis showed that lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, nickel, arsenic and copper were not detected in any the water samples. Zinc ranged from 0.1-1.2 ppm, calcium ranged between 68-86 ppm while magnesium was between 34- 68 ppm.

These results imply that these water samples were within WHO minimum standards for potable water, hence, they can be used for domestic or other applications.