Abstract
Studies were carried out to assess the effect of distance of sanitary pits on the microbial and heavy metal levels in hand dug well water samples consumed by people living in Akwuke, Enugu South Local government area of Enugu State, using standard biochemical and spectrophotometric analysis. The well water samples were digested with aqua-regia and four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) were assayed in the well water samples at sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits. The range of mean bacterial counts (cfu/g) for the four detected pathogenic bacteria; S. aureus, Klebsiella pnemeoniae, Echerichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis were 83 - 3730, 510 - 870, 50 - 2535 and 240 - 3420 Cfu/g at sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits. The mean bacteria counts of the four detected pathogenic organisms in the well water sample at sampling distances of 3 and 6 m respectively from the sanitary pits were above the WHO recommended threshold limits for a safe drinking water. The mean bacterial counts of Salmonella enteritidis in the well water samples of sampling distance of 10 m from the sanitary pits was above the WHO recommended permissible limits. At sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m from the sanitary pits, the mean range of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in the well water samples were, 0.03 - 0.3, 0.02 - 0.05, 0.46 - 1.71 and 1.63 - 7.03 μg/g respectively. The mean levels of Pb and Cd in the well water samples at sampling distances of 3 and 6 m respectively from the sanitary pits were above their respective WHO recommended threshold limits. The mean heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) in the well water samples at sampling distances of 3, 6, and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits were statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Highlights
Water is the most important source of life on earth and is of vital importance in human life
Studies were carried out to assess the effect of distance of sanitary pits on the microbial and heavy metal levels in hand dug well water samples consumed by people living in Akwuke, Enugu South Local government area of Enugu State, using standard biochemical and spectrophotometric analysis
Yahaya T.O. et al [14] reported a higher mean bacterial count of 12,000 (Cfμ/g) in well water consumed in Ilaje in Lagos State, than what this study reported at the investigated sampling distances from the sanitary pits
Summary
Water is the most important source of life on earth and is of vital importance in human life. It is incredibly indispensable for the existence of all living organisms [1]. The quality of water is important in environmental studies because of its daily use for human consumption and its ability to transport pollutants [2]. As the population of the world increases, there is the need for the supply of safe water for drinking, domestic, industrial and agricultural uses, so that healthy life can be achieved [3]. As ground water is isolated from the soil surface, most people believed that ground water should be relatively pure and free from pollutants. Most ground water is still of high quality at some locations, the quality of ground water is becoming increasingly threatened especially in developing countries of the world
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