Assessment of the quality of water used for domestic activities in Achimota School

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AUGUST, 2015
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Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the bacteriological and physico-chemical quality of potable water provided by Ghana Water Company Limited and borehole (underground) water used as domestic water supply in Achimota School. People in this area use the water for cooking, bathing, washing clothes and some even drink it. Thirteen (13) samples of tap water were collected from thirteen different areas while four (4) samples from boreholes from different locations within the Achimota School in the Accra Metro West District in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana were analysed. It was conducted between August 2010 and December 2010. Physico-chemical parameters such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, carbonate, sulphate, chloride, total iron, manganese, fluoride, pH, total alkalinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, nitrite, turbidity and phosphate were determined using conventional methods. Indicators for bacteria contamination due to presence of total coliforms and faecal coliforms were also carried out. All the pH recorded fell within WHO (2006) limits except tap water from Hospital Area that had a pH of 5.72. The remaining physio-chemical parameters for both waters fell within the desirable limits of WHO (2006) standards for drinking water. Bacteriologically, total coliforms ranging from 15 - 651 CFU 100 ml-1, were present in all the samples taken. Out of the tap water samples taken, about 50 % (McCarthy House, Anumle, Slessor House, Hospital Area and Achimota Preparatory School Area) and 25 % of borehole (thus Clark House) had faecal coliforms in them. But none of the waters sampled had E. coli. Therefore, both tap and borehole waters within the study area need some suitable treatments to make them safe bacteriologically for drinking. Regular monitoring and effective disinfestations are also needed to reduce the bacteria contamination.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements Master of Science degree in Environmental Science.
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