Impact of Unregulated Borehole Siting on Groundwater Quality
Authors: Obianyo JI, Okorie AICA
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
This study was on the impact of unregulated borehole siting on groundwater quality. The study areas were World Bank housing and Federal low-cost housing estates in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State Nigeria. A total of 20 samples were collected from boreholes, 10 samples from boreholes sited with separation distances from septic tanks above 30 m, and 10 samples from boreholes sited with separation distances from septic tanks below 30 m. Standard laboratory methods were used to determine the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the water samples. Tests of hypothesis at 5% level of significance showed that for 11 out of the 16 parameters tested which represents 68.75% of the parameters, no significant difference existed between boreholes sited with regulations and those sited without regulations. Also, most of the water quality parameters satisfied the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) standards, except total coliform count and Streptococcus in regulated boreholes, and total coliform count, fecal coliform count, E. coli and Streptococcus in unregulated boreholes. The pH value and concentration of phosphate was higher in regulated boreholes and these could be attributed to influence of other septic systems not considered and within the vicinity area studied. It was concluded that proximity of septic systems adversely affects groundwater sources.
Affiliations: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267, Umuahia, Nigeria
Keywords: Impact, Unregulated, Borehole, Siting, Groundwater, Quality
Published date: 2020/06/30
