EFFECT OF SOAK AWAY AND SEPTIC TANK POLLUTION ON
HAND DUG WELL WATER QUALITY (A CASE STUDY OF
GWALLAMEJI VILLAGE)
AUNGWA, Aondoyima Angus
JANUARY 2020
1
EFFECT OF SOAK AWAY AND SEPTIC TANK POLLUTION ON
HAND DUG WELL WATER QUALITY (A CASE STUDY OF
GWALLAMIJI VILLAGE).
BY
AUNGWA AONDOYIMA ANGUS
(FPTB/CET/HND/17/121020)
A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF HIGHER
NATIONAL
DIPLOMA
TECHNOLOGY,
(HND)
IN
CIVIL
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
OF
CIVIL
ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY,
FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI.
JANUARY, 2020.
2
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this research has been accepted by me and it is a record
of my own work. It has been accepted in any previous application for HND.
All source of information are specifically acknowledged by means of
references.
______________________________
Aungwa Aondoyima Angus
3
APPROVAL SHEET
This project titled Effect of Soak away and Septic Tank Pollution On Hand
Dug Well (A Case study of Gwallamaji Village) by Aungwa Aondoyima
Angus meets the requirement for the award of Higher National Diploma
_________________________
___________________
Project Supervisor
Date
________________________
____________________
H.O.D (CET)
Date
________________________
____________________
External Supervisor
Date
4
DEDICATION
I dedicate this work to almighty God who made everything possible for me
and my family
5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My special gratitude goes to Almighty God for guidance protection
throughout my academic ambition in this great institution and for the love,
mercy and grace he has shown to me.
And to my family Mr. & Mrs Igbege for making this dream comes into
reality for their support both financially, spiritually and parental role
accorded to me right from childhood for teaching me how to endure both
favorable and unfavorable situation and perseverance I love.
To my supervisor who I am very most indebted to, in the successful
execution of this work, my supervisor Mallam Auwal Saidu who is my
mentor without his help and encouragement, this work could have been
difficult to complete.
To the entire staff and students of Civil Engineering Department for
constructive comments and suggestions which crown the fullness of this
work.
To all my wishful thinkers I want to sincerely say thank you.
6
ABSTRACT
To access the suitability of good water source for drinking purpose is one of
the critical problems that deserve most attention. Samples were taken from
ground water sources (hand dug wells). The effect of soak-away and septic
tank system on ground water quality is a problem with a complex nature, it
necessitate a multi disciplinary research explore sustainable ways of
improving access to potable water in Gwallameji village of Bauchi State.
Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to analyzed the six samples
of water taken from six different well in Gwallameji village and were
transported to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University for analysis and results
were obtained from each well. Result obtained in six wells showed that, the
volume of conductivity and pH concentration on ground water depends on
the location of soak away system the higher the concentration of
contamination in ground water quality. However, more test needs to be
carried out on the chemical, biological and physical methods of the water
found in the area to ascertain its safety for consumption. Recommendations
should be been made to the community and other stakeholders to ensure
sustainability of potable water in Gwallameji village.
7
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page-------------------------------------------------------------------------------i
Declaration----------------------------------------------------------------------------ii
Approval sheet-----------------------------------------------------------------------iii
Dedication-----------------------------------------------------------------------------iv
Acknowledgement--------------------------------------------------------------------v
Abstract--------------------------------------------------------------------------------vi
Table of contents--------------------------------------------------------------------vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction-----------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.1Statement of the problem--------------------------------------------------------2
1.2 Aim---------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
1.3 Objectives-------------------------------------------------------------------------3
1.4 Significant of the study----------------------------------------------------------3
1.5 Scope and Limitation------------------------------------------------------------3
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review----------------------------------------------------------------4
2.1 Environmental Health-----------------------------------------------------------5
2.1.2 Environmental Health--------------------------------------------------------6
8
2.2 Environmental hazard---------------------------------------------------------6
2.3 Water------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
2.3.1 Water quality-------------------------------------------------------------------7
2.3.2 Water and its relation to health---------------------------------------------8
2.3.3 Factors affecting water quality----------------------------------------------8
2.4 Ground water source-------------------------------------------------------------9
2.5 Ground water sources and protection----------------------------------------9
2.6 Management of water use------------------------------------------------------10
2.7 Drinking water standard-------------------------------------------------------11
2.7.1Table 1physical/organic parameters----------------------------------------11
2.7.2 Table 2chemical parameters-------------------------------------------------12
2.7.3 Table 3chemical parameter--------------------------------------------------14
2.7.4 Table 4 organic constituents------------------------------------------------14
2.7.5 Table 5 microbiological Limits---------------------------------------------15
2.8 Soak away pit and septic tank-------------------------------------------------15
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Material and Method-----------------------------------------------------------17
3.1 Data collection------------------------------------------------------------------17
3.2 Interview with sources owner-------------------------------------------------17
9
3.3 Water quality test---------------------------------------------------------------17
3.4 Test for physical constituent on ground water----------------------------18
3.4.1 Temperature test--------------------------------------------------------------18
3.4.2 Colour -------------------------------------------------------------------------18
3.4.3 Turbidity-----------------------------------------------------------------------18
3.4.4 Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)------------------------------------------------18
3.5 Chemical constituent Analysis------------------------------------------------18
3.5.1 Water PH----------------------------------------------------------------------19
3.5.2 Total Hardness----------------------------------------------------------------19
3.5.3 Conductivity-------------------------------------------------------------------19
3.5.4 Manganese (Mn)--------------------------------------------------------------19
3.5.5 Calcium (Ca)------------------------------------------------------------------20
3.5.6 Chloride (Cl)------------------------------------------------------------------20
3.5.7 Sulphate (SO4)----------------------------------------------------------------20
3.5.8 Phosphate (P)------------------------------------------------------------------20
3.5.9 Zinc (Zn)-----------------------------------------------------------------------21
3.5.10 Lead (Pb)---------------------------------------------------------------------21
3.5.11 Copper (Cu)------------------------------------------------------------------21
3.5.12 Sodium (Na)-----------------------------------------------------------------21
10
3.5.13 Iron----------------------------------------------------------------------------21
3.6 Testing for Biological constituent of ground water quality---------------22
3.6.1 Bacteriological method------------------------------------------------------22
3.6.2 Method of collection---------------------------------------------------------23
3.6.3 Procedures in carrying out coliform Test----------------------------------24
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results and Discussion--------------------------------------------------------27
4.1Results-----------------------------------------------------------------------------28
4.2 Figures----------------------------------------------------------------------------34
4.3 Discussion-----------------------------------------------------------------------37
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------------------39
5.1 Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------------------39
5.2 Recommendation---------------------------------------------------------------39
5.3 References -----------------------------------------------------------------------41
5.4 Plate-------------------------------------------------------------------------------43
11
INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Hand-dug well water sources are often contaminated by soak away when the
safe distance between a water point and a soak away is not adequately
maintained. Microbial contamination and water-borne diseases are caused by
improper sanitation system in many countries for example Ghana,
Bangladeshi and including Nigeria. Infectious diseases like cholera, typhoid,
dysentery and other diarrheal diseases are common to get when using such
water. Subsurface sewage disposal systems are the largest sources of
wastewater to the ground, and are the most frequently reported causes of
ground-water contamination (Miller, 1980,p. 186). The likelihood of
ground-water contamination by these systems is greatest where septic
systems are closely spaced as in subdivided tractys in suburban areas and in
areas where the bedrock is covered by little or no soil.
The main contaminants from a soak away are the microorganisms
present in the pit. Distance between a tube well and a soak awayand local
geological and hydro geological conditions are important factors for
bacterial spread contaminating the tube well. When the organisms leach out
into the soil, amongst other factors, the hydraulic conductivity of the soil (i.e
the volume of water that moves in a unit time under a unit hydraulic gradient
through a unit area), determines how the organisms move to the saturated
zone of groundwater. The other important factors that influence transport of
bacteria in aquifer systems are the physical transport processes of advection
and hydrodynamic dispersion and microbe decay. The transport of
12
microbiological pathogens in groundwater is limited by die-off and
attenuation (including filtration and absorption).
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
One of the problems of Gwallameji is water crisis, where the available water
does not meet the inhabitant`s water demand. Adulterated water in
Gwallameji arises due to numbers of factors such as wastage of water,
deforestation and urbanization. Water-borne diseases are leading causing of
death (Augustine, 2001).
Wells are designed and located without proper site investigation on possible
pollution sources.
Septic tanks and soak-away pit and among the soil absorption system used
for disposal of domestic sewage in Gwallameji village, and that may poses
the threat of potential groundwater contamination. People in the area use
ground water especially from hand-dug wells for domestic and commercial
factors without undergoing treatment.
Possible migration of contaminate from soak-away into the septic tanks into
the ground water may renter well water of unfit for human consumption . so
there is a need to conduct thorough investigation on ground water quality in
other to ascertain the level of contamination and provide suitable
recommendation for tackling threat.
13
1.3 AIM
To determine the effect of soak-away pit and septic tank pollution on handdug well water quality in some areas in Gwallameji village.
1.3.1 OBJECTIVES
1. Determine if a hydraulic connection exist between septic-tank system
and the ground water system.
2. Determine the potential for occurrence or existence of ground water
contamination by septic tank system effluent.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significances of this research are;
a) To review the risk to health caused by groundwater contamination
from on-site sanitation.
b) To review the importance of soak-away and septic-tank location from
ground water.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The scope of the study covers the following.
i.
Six (6) soak-away and septic-tanks are considered and six handdug wells are were nearby and the distances between them will be
measured and recorded. Samples of well water were collected and
tested and transported to the laboratory for experiment.
ii.
Ground water analysis.
iii.
Laboratory
test
will
be
carried
out
on
the
following
contaminations; physical, chemical and biological methods.
14
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Soak-away and septic tank are thought to have been originated in French
during early 1800`s where it was developed to deal with human waste
generated in the new town that expanded rapidly to support the industrial
revolution following the regime of Napoleon Bonaparte. The tank invention
was credited by a French man called `John Louis Mouras` who was able to
patent the septic tank invention on 22nd Sept.1881. It was believed that the
septic was first introduced to the United Kingdom (UK) in 1895. Until that
time the wealthy used buckets in an ablution room within their house and
staff (chambermaids) emptied the content when necessary into the same
cesspit latrine adjoining the house that they used themselves. Some larger
buildings had a quite sophisticated sewer that drained it within the house to a
cesspit and associated need bed on the grounds. Fecal solid were flush along
the pipe (by household staff) using random buckets of wash water.
2.1 Environmental Health
World Agency of Health Biology (WAHEB 1991) defined an environment
as, all the conditions, circumstances and influences surrounding and
effecting the development of an organism or group of organisms. Or
environment is defined as the combination of elements whose complex
interrelationships makes up setting, they are or as they are felt.
Pollution: is it the introduction by man into the environment of certain
substances or energy that are liable to cause hazards to human health, harm
to living resources and ecological system, damage to structure and amenity.
15
Health as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) health deals with
the prevention and control of all the factors in man`s physical environment
which exercise a deleterious effect on the physical development of health
and survival of an individual. Some of these factors are natural while some
are man-made.
Sanitation is an act of removing all unwanted/ harmful substances from
man`s surrounding including the modification of some harsh environmental
elements for healthy living and survival (Bassey, 2004).
Philosophy, sanitation can be seen as a way of life, the quality of living that
is expressed in clean homes, business, farm, work place, market and
neighborhood, and must be constantly nourished by knowledge and effective
legislation.
The activities that are carried out under environmental health are:
 Air pollution
 Solid waste management
 Vectors and pests control
 Wholesome and adequate water supply
 Noise and radiation control
 Liquid waste management
 Food hygiene and sanitation
 Provision of good housing
16
2.1.2 Environmental Health
The objectives environmental health are:
 To prevent accident and injury
 The prevent spread of diseases
 To enhance environmental beauty
 The prevent pollution of environment
 To enhance resource uses by way of solving environmental problems
and preserving natural resources
 To assist the ecosystem
 To enhance health and comfortable living as well as enhance
longevity
2.2 Environmental Hazards
They are elements, substance or factors found within man are
surrounding which has harmful or delirious effects to man`s health and
survival. They are those elements in physical environment which, though
cause by forces extraneous to man, are harmful to him (Maurice,
2004).The are categorized under:: physical, chemical, biological,
mechanics, psycho-social and ergonomic hazards.
2.3 Water
Water is a natural occurring substance. Water is very important to man,
animal and plants. Without water, life on earth will not exist. Man need
about 1.5-3 liters of water daily for body metabolism (Philip 1990) apart
from this basic requirement, man need water for domestic, irrigation,
recreation and transportation activities.
17
Water in its pure state is compound made up of two elements, oxygen and
hydrogen chemically combined together in the ratio of 2:1 (H2O) which
exist in three stages: solid, gas and liquid. It boils sat 100OC, freezes at 0oC
and reaches maximum density at 4oC.
On the other hand, water if polluted predisposes users to a number of
diseases. Also water in excess could cause food hazard, dampness in
buildings as such and detrimental to man.
2.3.1 Water quality
Water qualities are those suspended particles in dissolved form found in
water. There is no single measure that constitutes good water quality. It
depends on its use and also, water quality problem can be treated because it
is defined by analyzing it in terms of its chemical content, physical content
and biological content.
Good water quality (portable) drinking water is free from disease causing
organisms, harmful chemical substances and radioactivity matter. Water
tastes good, is aesthetically appealing and is free from objectionable colour
or odour.
It should be emphasized that there is a difference between “ PURE
WATER” and “SAFE DRINKING WATER”. Pure water, often defined as
water containing no materials or chemical, does not exist naturally in the
environment, on the other hand, may retain naturally occurring minerals and
chemicals such as potassium, calcium, sodium or fluoride which are actually
beneficial to human health. These chemicals impart some taste to the water
that meant for drinking. Water meant for human consumption should have
the following characteristics:
18
 It should be soft and not hard
 It should be odorless, colorless and tasteless.
 It should be free from suspended materials
2.3.2 Water and its relation to health
Water as a compound is innocuous (harmless) but the presence of some
suspended substances in it (organic or inorganic) may be capable of causing
diseases to man.
2.3.3 Factors Affecting water quality
Water (H2O) is used for three main purposes, domestic uses, industrial uses
and agricultural uses. Each country uses different amount of its available
water for these three main purposes. In percentages, the global uses for the
three main purposes are divided up as follows:
Agriculture (mainly irrigation) – 69%: industrial -23% and domestic
drinking, and sanitation (-8% Lenntech, 2007). This case study only focuses
on access to portable water for domestic activities. Domestic activities are
divided into drinking water, bathing, food preparation, sanitation hygiene
(Billig, et al 1999).
Ground water in rocks such as limestone and dolomite, which contains
significant amount of highly soluble minerals, has a higher dissolved- solids
content that ground water in rocks such as granite and basalt, which are
relatively few soluble minerals. Because of its long contact with minerals
surfaces and relatively low dissolved oxygen contents, ground water in an
area usually has higher dissolves- solids content than surface water.
19
The quality of ground water is of vital importance, whether the water is to
be uses for industrial or domestic purposes. In general, ground water is to be
free from bacteria’s because the passage of water through the ground strata
constitutes a natural filtering process.
This does not remove the vital necessity for routine bacteriological
examination of all ground water to be used for domestic purpose especially
when site geology would permit contamination of the ground water from
surface sources.
2.3 Ground water sources
When a hole is dug into the ground to the aquifer layers, the area filled with
water within a few minutes of the surface area. The water would appear even
if no rain fall and no streams flow nearby. The water that seeps into the
ground is part of the vast reservoir of subterranean ground water that
saturates the earth`s crust un the zone between a few meters above and few
meters below the surface.
We can extract the water by digging wells and pumping it to the surface.
Before the invention of advanced drilling and pumping technologies, human
impacts on ground water resources were minimal. Deep wells and highspeed pumps can extract ground water more rapidly than natural processes
can replace it.
2.4 Groundwater Sources and Protection
This water is obtained from the ground through wells, boreholes, springs
these water sources are relatively safe (wholesome) depending on the level
of external pollution and the level in the earth crust where the water is
20
obtained. The groundwater (borehole or wells) can be protected by the
following ways:
 Making sure the water is obtained from deep wells
 Maintaining a safe distance of 30 and above before locating a well
away from soak away pit and septic tanks
 Providing water lightning to the well at least 60cm above
 Covering should be made to slope to a drain leading to a soak away
ease waste discharge from the mouth.
 A newly constructed well should be disinfected before use.
 Providing cover to the well
 Ground level to prevent entry of rain water runoff into the well.
2.5 Management of water use
When dealing with groundwater that is naturally replenished in wet
season, we should develop plans to use surface water when available and
not be afraid to use ground water in dry season, the replenishment in dry
seasons. During wet seasons, natural recharge and artificial recharge
(pumping) take place as excess surface water gets into the ground to
replenish the groundwater resources.
This management plan recognizes that excesses and deficiencies in water
are natural and can be planned for.
Bartram (1999) argued that the management of water resources cannot be
successful so long as it is naively perceived, primarily from an economic
and political standpoint. A new philosophy of water management is
21
needed based on geological, geographic and climate factors as well as the
traditional, economic, political and social political factors.
2.6 Drinking water standard
All drinking water quality standards describe the quality parameters set
for drinking water. Despite the truth that every human on this planet
needs drinking water to survive and that water may contain many
harmful constituents, there are no universally recognized and accepted
international standards for drinking water.
All drinking water sources intended for human consumption shall comply
with Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality and shall receive
authorization from ministry of health before being supplied to the
population.
22
2.7.1 Parameters and Maximum Allowable Limits
Table 1- physical/ organic parameters
Parameter
Unit
Maximum
Health impact
permitted levels
Colour
TCU
15
None
Odour
-
Unobjectionable
None
Taste
-
Unobjectionable
None
Temperature
Celsius
Ambient
None
Turbidity
NTU
5
None
23
2.7.2 Chemical parameters
Table 2- inorganic constituents
Parameter
Unit
Maximum
Health impact
permitted
Aluminum
Mg/L
0.2
(Al)
Potential Neutrodegenerative
disorders
Arsenic (As)
Mg/L
0.01
Cancer
Barium
Mg/L
0.7
Hypertension
Cadmium
Mg/L
0.003
Toxic
(Cd)
to
the
kidney
Chloride (Cl)
Mg/L
250
None
Chromium
Mg/L
0.05
Cancer
Conductivity
Mg/L
1000
None
Copper
Mg/L
1
Gastrointestinal
(Cr6+)
(Cu+2)
Cyanide (CN)
disorder
Mg/L
0.01
Very toxic to the
thyroid and the
nervous system
Fluoride (F)
Mg/L
1.5
Fluorosis,
skeletal tissue
(bones
teeth)
morbidity
24
and
Hardness
(as
150
None
0.05
None
0.3
None
0.01
Cancer,
CaC3)
Hydrogen
sulphide (H2S)
Iron (Fe+2)
Lead (Pb)
Mg/L
interference with
vitamin
D
metabolism,
affect
mental
development
in
infants, toxic to
the central and
peripheral
nervous system
Magnesium
Mg/L
0.20
(mg+2)
Manganese
Consumer
acceptability
Mg/L
0.2
(Mn+2)
Neurological
disorder
25
2.7.3 Chemical parameters
Table 3- Inorganic constituents
Parameters
Unit
Maximum
Health
permitted
Mercury (Hg)
Mg/L
0.001
Affects
the
kidney
and
central nervous
system
Nickel (Ni)
Mg/L
0.02
Possible
carcinogenic
Nitrate (NO3)
Mg/L
50
Cyanosis
and
asphyxia
(blue-
baby syndrome)
infants under 3
months.
Nitrate (NO2)
Mg/L
0.2
Cyanosis
and
asphyxia
(blue-
baby syndrome)
in infants under
3 months.
PH
Mg/L
6.5-8.5
None
Sodium (Na)
Mg/L
200
None
Sulphate (SO4)
Mg/L
100
None
dissolved Mg/L
500
None
Total
solids
26
Zinc (Zn)
Mg/L
3
None
Note 1: parameter to be monitored only if aluminum chemicals are
used for water.
27
2.7.4 Chemical parameters
Table 4- organic constituents
Parameter
Unit
Health impact
Detergents
Mg/L
Possibly
0.01
carcinogenic
Mineral oil
Mg/L
Possibly
0.003
carcinogenic
Pesticides
Mg/L
Possibly
0.01
carcinogenic
Phenols
Mg/L
Possibly
0.001
carcinogenic
Poly
aromatic Mg/L
Possibly
hydrocarbons
carcinogenic
Total
Cancer
organic Mg/L
carbon
or
Oxidisability
28
0.007
5
2.7.5 Microbiological Requirements
Table 5- Microbiological Limits
parameter
unit
Health Impact
Maximum
permitted levels
Total coliform
Cfu/100ml
10
Indication
of
faecal
contamination
Thermo tolerant Cfu/100ml
coliform
0
or
Urinary
tract
infection,
E.coli
bacteraemia,
meningitis,
diarrhea,
of
(one
the
main
cause
of
mortality
among
children), acute
renal
and
failure
hemolytic
anemia
Faecal
Cfu/100ml
0
streptococcus
Indicator
recent
of
faecal
contamination
Clostridium
Cfu/100ml
0
perfringers
Index
intermitted
29
of
spore
faecal
contamination
2.7 Soak Away and Septic Tank Systems
Soak away pit and septic tank system have the traditional way to dispose of
storm water from buildings and paved areas remote in Nigeria, in recent
years, soak away system have been used within urban areas, latrine pits are
to limit the impact on discharge of new upstream building works and to
avoid costs latrine up to adding outside a development (soak away design,
Digest 365)
Soak away are seen increasingly as a more widely applicable option
alongside either means of ground water control and disposal. Soak away
must store the immediate storm water run-off and allow for its infiltration
into the adjacent soil.
They must discharge their stored water sufficiently quickly to provide the
necessary capacity to receive run-off from a subsequent storm. The time
taken for discharge dispends upon the soak away shape and size, and the
surrounding soils infiltration characteristics.
According to Part H2 of the 2000 building regulation, aseptic tank should be
sited within 30m away from a well and should be ventilated. Ventilation
should be kept away from a building. Also a septic tank system should be
sited at least 7m away from any habitable part of a building.
30
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD
3.1 Data collection
For the purpose of the research, six (6) samples from six different wells in
Gwallameji which are oceanic lodge, Destiny connection, Kwara lodge,
Texas City, Dubai city and Havana lodge were collected and analyzed. Also
interviews were conducted with hand-dug well owners and consumers about
the quality of the well water they are using.
Field observations were made during the survey work to make valid some of
the information obtained from the society. These observation include, water
colour, distance between water source and location of public and private
water source.
3.2 Interview with source owners
Different owners of the water source in their house were intervened for more
information on the treatment of water as well as the procedures of water
treatment, but some don`t treat their water because of ignorance, some due
to availability of finance at particular time.
3.3 Water Quality Test
The quality of drinking water was tested and analyzed in the laboratory. The
contaminates are in three categories using physical, chemical and biological
methods. The contaminate analyzed were PH, temperature, conductivity,
manganese, turbidity, magnesium, calcium, chloride, ammonia, zinc,
phosphate, sulphate, lead, copper, sodium and iron, total coliform, fecal
31
coliform, total dissolved solid (TDS), the tests were conducted at civil
Engineering Laboratory.
3.4 Test for physical constituent on Ground water
The physical analysis base on this research is to determine substances
affecting the physical quality of ground water.
3.4.1 Temperature test
The water was put into a beaker and a thermometer will be inserted into the
water and readings will be taken and recorded for each sample.
3.4.2 Colour
The water sample was place into a tube at right hand corner of the
comparator; the disc will be placed on comparator and rotated. The nearest
colour match will be taken and noted, the colour value. Then the colour will
be determined using Photometer.
3.4.3 Turbidity
Turbidity is a measure of the degree to which water loses its transparency
due to the presence of suspended solids or particles.
3.4.4 Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)
This is to be determined by multiplying the conductivity value by a constant
0.6, (i.e. TDS= conductivity x 0.6)
3.5 Chemical constituent Analysis
The chemical parameters which were tested include the following and the
concentration of each element was determined using a spectrophotometer.
32
3.5.1 Water pH
PH is a measurement of how to know the acidic or how alkaline something
or water is. PH is the amount of acid and base present in the ground water
quality. The water sample will be put into the beaker and a PH meter probe
and rinsed with distilled water and inserted into the water sample in the
beaker Tin. Read key will be pressed and the PH value will be recorded for
each sample.
3.5.2 Total Hardness
Hardness is cause by different metallic ion or the ++ charges of Ca and are
capable of reacting with soap to form precipitate and with certain anions (-)
to cause scale. If water concentration is 0-75 milligram/liter, the water is
said to be soft, the 75-150mg/L moderately hard; and 150-300mg/L- very
hard (en.wikidpedia.org/wiki/hard water).
3.5.3 Conductivity
The conductivity meter probe was rinsed with distilled water and inserted
into the sample and the conductivity meter will be used and the values will
be recorded.
3.5.4 Manganese (Mg)
The manganese was tested using spectrophotometer. Water sample will be
placed in a test tube and a 4 drops of manganese reagent Mn-1 will be added
and shaken. This will be allowed to stand for two (2) minutes. Thereafter, 2
drops of manganese reagent Mn-2 will be added, shaken and allowed to
stand for another 2 minutes before reading the manganese concentration
from the spectrophotometer at wave length of 520mm or 520mg/LMn1.
33
3.5.5 Calcium (Ca)
Calcium was tested using spectrophotometer. Some M1 of the water sample
will be placed in a test tube and 4 drops of calcium reagent Mn-1 will be
added and shaken. This will be allowed to stand for two (2) minutes.
Thereafter. 2 drops of calcium reagent Mn-2 and Mn-3 will be added,
shaken and allowed to stand for 2 another minutes before reading the
calcium concentration from the spectrophotometer at a wave length of
520mm or 520mg/LMn1.
3.5.6 Chloride (CL1)
Water was placed in a test tube of chloride reagent CL-1 added and mixed.
CL-2 reagent will be added and shaken and be allowed to stand for one
minute
before
reading
out
the
chloride
concentration
from the
spectrophotometer at a wave length of 460Mn-1.
3.5.7 Sulphate (SO4)
Water sample was placed in the test tube and 2 drops of sulphate reagent
(SO4-2A) will be added and mixed. One level spoon of reagent So1-2A will
be added and mixed. The solution and then tempered in a water bath at 40oC
for five minutes. This can be transferred into a round cell and placed in the
water sample of a wave length of 520Mn-1 used values will be recorded.
3.5.8 Phosphate (P)
Water was put in a test tube and some drops of phosphorus reagent P 1A
were added to it and mixed. This is followed by the addition of one level
spoon of phosphate reagent P-2A. 5 minutes time for colour development
34
was allowed before phosphorus concentration was reared in the
spectrophotometer at a wave length.
3.5.9 Zinc (Zn)
Drops (0.3ml) of zinc Zn-3k was added to a reaction cell and shaken, this
will be allowed to stand for 1 minute and the zinc concentration will be
taken from the spectrophotometer and recorded.
3.5.10 Lead (Pb)
Water sample was place in a reaction cell and some drops of lead reagent
pb-1k was added and mixed. The concentration of lead will be determined in
a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 620Mn-1.
3.5.11 Copper (Cu)
Water sample was placed in a reaction cell and 5 drops of copper reagent cu1k will be added and into it and be shaken. A reaction time of 5 minutes will
be allowed before reading will be taken in the spectrophotometer at a
wavength of 420Mn-1 wavelength.
3.5.12 Sodium (Na)
Water sample was placed in a reaction cell 5 drops of sodium reagent Na-1k
added and mixed the concentration of sodium will be determined in the
spectrophotometer.
3.5.13 Iron
Water sample was placed in a reaction cell and one ferrous iron reagent
powder will be added and allowed to mix on a concentration of iron and
determined.
35
3.6 Test for biological constituent of groundwater quality
This is a process of testing the bacteriology (bacteria`s) of ground water,
which include:
a. Fecal coliform
b. Total coliform
3.6.1 Bacteriological method: (Total Coliform and Fecal Coliform)
The method for bacteriological test is the membrane filtration method. All
the glass, waves and the media used were sterilized in an autoclave at 121 oC
for 5 minutes. The media used (Endo agar and MF-c agar base) will be
prepared according to manufacturer`s instruction before sterilizing. The
media will be poured into sterile glass Petri dishes and allowed to cool and
solidity.
The filtration unit will be mounted on the Erlenmeyer flask and fastened
with a clamp. A membrane filter will carefully be picked with a forced and
placed on the filtration unit and some of the water sample will be measured
and the measuring cylinder will be rising and poured into the filtration unit.
The vacuum pump will then turned on and the water will filtered out into the
Erlenmeyer flask. The membrane filter will be carefully removed with a
sterile force p (dipped in alcohol) and placed on the molten medium
incubation/ as done at coliforms in an incubator for 24 hours period, the
cultures will harvested and colonies counted with a colony counter. The
colony counts will be appropriately noted for all the samples.
36
3.6.2 Method of collecting sample:
Six water samples are taken in the following manner:
a. Water fetch from the well for about 3 minutes. While the water will
still be following, distilled water bottle will be immersed for two
second and withdrawn, the colour will be allowed to develop for 60
seconds and compared against the enclose colour strip and result was
recorded.
b. Sample in a clean water bottle was collected.
c. Making visual observations concerning the turbidity
d. Statement about the odour observation in water was made.
e. With sample in clear glass, the TB`s with a total oxygen (TO`s)
pocket meter was recorded in PPM (parts per million).
f. Bacteriological test was constructed to obtain meaningful results. The
pipe from the pump was briefly scorched with a match to ensure that
any detected bacteria from the water itself and not the well surface.
The flows of water for 2-3 minutes before sample will be obtained.
The sterile plastic sample bag filled, taken care that the inner surface
of the bag does not touched anything including hands.
For total coliform, water will carefully poured into the sample vial
until the liquid level reach the fill-line (the La Monte test requires 5
vials). Ensuring that the lip of anything cap placed back on. Vials
place upright, the colour change will recorded and the gas formation
and politic of the thimble in the vials. After the test, the lids will be
removed, vials rinsed with bleach and crushed and buried in the
ground where children would not be able to find them and play with,
because they contain potentially dangerous bacterial.
37
3.6.3 Procedures in carrying out Coliform Test
 Plates are made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator,
remove them and allow them to warm to room temperature.
The crystals that form on M1 agar after refrigeration will
disappear as the plates warm up.
 Label the bottom of the M1 agar or M1 broth plates with the
sample number/identification and the volume of sample to be
analyzed. Label QC TSA plates and the M1 agar are broth
sterility control plate(s).
 Using a flame forceps, place a membrane filter, grid-side, on
the porous plate of the filter base. If you have difficulties in
removing the separation papers from the filters due to static
electricity, place a filter with the paper on top of the funnel
base and turn on the vacuum. The separation paper will curl
up, allowing easier removal.
 Attach the funnel to the filter unit, taking care not to damage
or dislodge the filter. The membrane filter is now located
between the funnel and the base.
 Put approximately 30ml of sterile dilution water in the bottom
of the funnel.
 Shake the sample container vigorously 25 times.
 Measure an appropriate volume (100 ml for drinking water)
or dilution of the sample with a sterile pipette or graduated
cylinder, and pour it into the funnel. Turn on the vacuum, and
leave it on while rinsing the funnel twice with about 30ml
sterile dilution water.
38
 Remove the funnel from the base of the filter unit. A
germicidal ultraviolent (254nm) light box can be used to hold
and sanitize the funnel between filtrations. At 2 minutes of
exposure time is required for funnel decontamination. Protect
eyes from UV irradiation with glasses, goggles or an enclosed
UV chamber.
 Holding the membrane filter at its edge with a flamed forceps,
gently lift and place the filter grid side up on the M1agar plate
or M1 broth pad plate. Slide the filter onto the agar or pad,
using a rolling action to avoid trapping air bubbles between
the membrane filter and the underlying agar or absorbent pad,
run the tip of the forceps around the outside edge of the filter
to be sure the filter makes contact with the agar or pad. Reseat
the membrane if non-wetted areas occur due to air bubbles.
 Invert the agar Petri dish, and incubate the plate at 35oC for
24 hours. Pad plates used with M1 broth should be incubated
grid side up at 35oC for 24 hours. If loose-lidded plates are
used for M1 agar or broth, the plates should be placed in a
humid chamber.
 Count all blue colonies on
each M1 plate under
normal/ambient light, and record the result, this is the E, coli
count. Positive results that occur in less than 24 hours are
valid, but the results cannot be recorded as negative until the
24-hour incubation period is complete.
 Expose each M1 plate to long wave ultraviolent light
(366nm), and count all fluorescent colonies [blue/green
fluorescent E, coli, blue/white fluorescent TC other than E,
39
coli, and blue/green with fluorescent edges (also E, coli).
Record the data.
 Add any blue, non-fluorescent colonies (if any) found on the
same plate to the TC count.
 Data Analysis 38hours.
40
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To ease this project analysis, the parameters obtained were split into six (6)
tables. And graph will be presented on seven parameters (Manganese,
Sodium, Copper, calcium, PH, magnesium and conductivity).
41
4.1 RESULTS
TABLE 4.1.2 DESTINY CONNECTION LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.0518
0.05
Sodium (Na)
87.2542
ND
Copper (Cu)
-2.8072
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
37.683
50
PH
6.7
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
156
300
Temperature (oC)
25.9
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
21
500
Colour (Pt)
187
0
Magnesium (Mg)
15.11
100
Fecal Coliform
44
0
42
TABLE 4.1.3 OCEANIC LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.0869
0.05
Sodium (Na)
99.7693
ND
Copper (Cu)
-3.2069
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
38.448
50
PH
6.6
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
135
300
Temperature (oC)
26.1
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
18
500
Colour (Pt)
93
0
Magnesium (Mg)
11.9
100
Fecal Coliform
43
0
43
TABLE 4.1.4 DUBAI CITY LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.1251
0.05
Sodium (Na)
70.5698
ND
Copper (Cu)
-0.1546
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
17.941
50
PH
6.6
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
096
300
Temperature (oC)
26.7
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
9
500
Colour (Pt)
45
0
Magnesium (Mg)
13.09
100
Fecal Coliform
28
0
44
TABLE 4.1.5 HAVANNA LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.1736
0.05
Sodium (Na)
122.6316
ND
Copper (Cu)
-0.3338
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
31.635
50
PH
7.0
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
277
300
Temperature (oC)
26.9
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
37
500
Colour (Pt)
36
0
Magnesium (Mg)
15.01
100
Fecal Coliform
141
0
45
TABLE 4.1.6 KWARA LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.05022
0.05
Sodium (Na)
80.6541
ND
Copper (Cu)
0.190
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
28.15
50
PH
7.1
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
196
300
Temperature (oC)
24.5
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
30
500
Colour (Pt)
45
0
Magnesium (Mg)
10.01
100
Fecal Coliform
35
0
46
TABLE 4.1.7 TEXAS CITY LODGE
PARAMETER
RESULTS
WHO`S
Manganese (Mg/L)
0.0512
0.05
Sodium (Na)
79.1460
ND
Copper (Cu)
-0.1301
1.0
Calcium (Ca)
27.30
50
PH
7.0
6.5-8.5
TDS (PPM)
89
300
Temperature (oC)
26.2
Ambient
Conductivity (US/CM)
45
500
Colour (Pt)
39
0
Magnesium (Mg)
9.14
100
Fecal Coliform
37
0
47
FIGURE 4.2.1
Sodium (Na)
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
FIGURE 4.2.2
Manganese (Mg/L)
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
48
S5
S6
FIGURE 4.2.3
Conductivity
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
FIGURE 4.2.4
49
S5
S6
Calcium (Ca)
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S4
S5
S6
FIGURE 4.2.5
PH TEST
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
50
FIGURE 4.2.6
Magnesium (Mg)
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
51
S5
S6
FIGURE 4.2.7
Copper (Cu)
0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
4.3 DISCUSSION
Drinking water quality standards describe the quality parameters set for
drinking water. Therefore all drinking water sources intended for human
consumption shall comply with Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water
Quality.
These results show that the results obtained from this research work show
the effect of ground water source, to pollution source (soak away and septic
tank) which is determine to a large extent, of the degree of pollution of that
of ground water. However, there were few exceptions where locations at
short distances away from soak away and septic tank recorded
contamination levels higher than those at the nearest locations. Hydro
geological nature of this location revealed that the topography and direction
of ground water flow play very important role in ground water pollution.
52
Such other parameters like porosity, soil profile and permeability also
influence ground water pollution. But for the purpose of this research, these
factors (porosity, soil profile and permeability) were not taken into
consideration, and thus were assumed to be constant.
Hand dug wells are wrongly located downstream while nearby soak away
and septic tanks are located upstream. In this case, sewage effluents flow
from the toilets into the well, thereby causing heavy pollution of that ground
water source. This is because of the wrong location of soak away without
due consideration of hydro-geology of the area; such as determining the
direction of ground water flow, soil nature, ground water table and so on.
This research has confirmed the minimum allowable effect between a soak
away and septic tank system and ground water source (well), from the
results obtained in chapter 4 of this work, the minimum allowable distance
between soak away and septic tank and well (in Gwallameji village) is less
than 30 meter`s (30m), which is not in conformity with NAFDAC`s
(National Agency for Food Drug and Administration and Control)
recommendation.
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 CONCLUSION
53
The problem of groundwater pollution is caused by improper location of
soak away system which disposes micro-organisms to the ground water.
This problem itself is as old as man. Ground water quality will be
completely spread if its hygiene`s are not checked. This research has proved
that improper location/sitting of wells and soak away has greatly endangered
the lives of the inhabitants of Gwallameji village area. Most students depend
on the heavily polluted water for their daily consumption and other domestic
needs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for appropriate government
agencies arid others, stakeholders to adopt measures that will check this
trend. This problem is not only in Gwallameji alone but most places in
Bauchi and Nigeria at large
5.3 Recommendations:
Based on this research, the following recommendations are made:
 Government should improve public water supply in order to avoid
over dependence of well as sources of the water supply.
 Well should be very deep, to avoid easy infiltration of influents into
the water sources.
 Where the water is high, deep soak away pits should be avoided or
shutdown if already in existence.
 Well driller and intending owners should carry out site investigations.
With a view of identifying possible source of pollution, there should
be a minimum distance of 30m of a soak away and the well and the
identified toilet facility should be maintained.
 Well should not be located downstream of a soak away but on the
upstream side.
54
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