EFFECT OF STORAGE CONTAINER AND TIME ON POTABLE WATER QUALITY
EFFECT OF STORAGE CONTAINER AND TIME ON POTABLE WATER QUALITY
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Date
2015-10
Authors
OGBOZIGE, FRANCIS JAMES
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Abstract
Water tanks are liquid storage containers that store water for human consumption. They are
usually made of polyethylene (plastic), steel, clay, ceramics and fiber glass. The need to
investigate thechanges in water quality during storage in different types of water storage
tanks or vessels is very crucial in establishing which tank contributes to deterioration or
improvement of stored water during storage. Two sources of potable water (tap water and
borehole water) were stored in twelve water storage reservoirs (six for each water source) for
a period of six weeks. The tanks include black plastic tank, blue plastic tank, green plastic
tank, coated steel metal tank, uncoated steel metal tank and clay pot. The water quality
parameters examined were Temperature, Taste, Odour, Colour, Turbidity, Total solids,
Conductivity, pH, Nitrate, Dissolved oxygen, Alkalinity, Total hardness, Calcium hardness,
Chloride, Chlorine residual, Manganese, Iron, Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) and
Chlorophyll-A.However, all parameters listed above were analyzed at a sampling frequency
of seven days interval.The results showedthat among the different container materials/colours
used, black plastic tank was the best in terms ofpreserving water quality.The range in the
following examined toxic parameters (i.e Nitrate, Manganese, Total heterotrophic bacteria
and Chlorophyll-A) in tap water stored in black plastic tank were 8.0mg/L – 13.8mg/L,
0.099mg/L – 0.201mg/L, 2×102CFU/100mL – 116×102CFU/100mL and 0.000µg/L –
0.959µg/L respectively.On the other hand, the range for the said parameters for borehole
water stored in black plastic tank are respectively 8.9mg/L – 13.6mg/L, 0.127mg/L –
0.226mg/L, 6×102CFU/100mL - 112×102CFU/100mL and 0.000µg/L –0.954µg/L.
Also,findings from the study recommends that,the maximum retention period for storing tap
water or borehole water in plastic tanks as well as coated steel metal tanks to be at most
3weeks while storage in clay pots should not to exceed 6days. On the other hand, uncoated
steel metal tank wassuggested not to be used as storage vessel for potable/drinking water
regardless of the retention time. The research also modeled the water quality results and
identified that Electrical Conductivity (EC)is strongly influenced by Alkalinity, Calcium
hardness and Chloride ions with R2values of 0.9926, 0.9958 and 0.9995 respectively. From
this work, it was established that,black plastic materials should be considered first when
selecting a container material for storing water in large capacity.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUTE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF A
MASTER DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING,FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA.
Keywords
EFFECT,, STORAGE CONTAINER,, TIME,, POTABLE WATER QUALITY,