Effect of Pit Latrines on Dug-Well Water Quality - A Case Study of the Asankrangwa Community in the Wassa Amenfi West District of Ghana

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2013-07-25
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This study examined the water quality of dug-wells cited in close proximity to pit latrines in the Asankrangwa community in the Western Region of Ghana. Water samples were collected from 16 dug-wells and analyzed for some physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. The results show that all the dug-wells were sited closer than the 30 metres minimum separation distance between dug-wells and pit latrines. All the physico-chemical parameters analysed (except turbidity) fell within the Ghana EPA standards for drinking water. The bacteriological analyses, however, showed that the water was contaminated with total coliforms (15.50-71.62 cfu/100ml), faecal coliforms (0.00-13.00 cfu/100ml) and E. coli (0.00-4.25 cfu/100ml). The high numbers of these in the water samples could be attributed to the presence of the pit latrines and the sanitation around the dug-wells as well as the use of multiple receptacles and the nature of the dug-wells (uncovered, unlined and unpaved dug-wells). The presence of these biological indicators suggest that the water is potentially harmful to human health if consumed untreated.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Science in Environmental Science,
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