Evaluation of the Microbial and Physicochemical Properties of Shallow Hand Dug Well Water in Okpuno-Awka, Southeastern Nigeria

Shallow hand dug well water is the most essential source of water supply for human consumption in Okpuno-Awka area. Water samples were collected from forty (40) shallow hand dug wells across the study area. The pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and temperature were measured using Hanna environmental probe (H Series). The microbial parameters were analyzed in the laboratory using standard method. The results of physicochemical parameters of the hand dug wells revealed a pH range of 5.4 to 6.9 while Electrical Conductivity varied between 84 and 369 µS/cm sequentially for each sampled point. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) for hand dug well samples ranged from 104 to 789mg/l. While most of the physical- chemical parameters of the samples examined when compared with the regulatory standard were found to meet the drinking water standard, sodium in some samples is slightly above the regulatory standard. The microbial counts for the water samples did not meet the WHO drinking water standard as the Coliform, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella spp., faecal streptococci, K, Campylobacter jejuni, and Salmonella typhi levels were above the WHO limit. Thus, long term consumption of the untreated water is unsafe for drinking. Better wastewater management methods are desirable to improve water quality in the study area.