A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLY SOURCES AND HEALTH PROFILE OF THE RESIDENTS OF KONGO CAMPUS, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLY SOURCES AND HEALTH PROFILE OF THE RESIDENTS OF KONGO CAMPUS, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
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Date
2001
Authors
YUSUF, AKIM ABDUL
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Abstract
A Comparative analysis of the bacteriological quality of water supply sources and
heath profile of the residents of Kongo Campus, Ahmadu Bello University was carried
out. The study involved the determination of the faecal coliform count and residual
chlorine concentrations of water samples in accordance with the steps laid down in
Standard Methods (APHA 1990).
It also involved the determination of the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases among
water consumers using the medical records of patients attending the school clinic and with
the use of questionnaires administered on 300 respondents randomly selected from among
staff and students using stratified sampling technique.
Generally, the result showed that all the water samples were heavily contaminated.
A minimum coliform count of 1x102 was determined for tap water at the treatment site and
the maximum count of 8x102 was recorded at a distance of 2km from the treatment site.
None of the water supply sources (well, tap water, and bore hole) available to the residents
meets the standard set by World Health organisation (WHO) for drinking water which
states that "Drinking water must be free from microbial contamination and the coliform
count must be zero or less than I per l00mls of treated water" (WHO 1972).
The high coliform counts of tap water samples may have resulted from the
inadequate treatment of water observed at the treatment plant and the possibility of
additional pollution within the distribution system. It was observed that the heavy
contamination of well water supplies are likely due to improper construction and poor
protection of the wells. In addition, the poor drainage and waste disposal pattern of the
campus which frequently leads to flooding during rainy season may have contributed to
well water contamination from sewage and animal wastes.
The findings also revealed that the residual chlorine levels diminishes as water
flows away from the treatment plant with a corresponding increase in faecal coliform
counts. Hence the residual chlorine concentrations persistently failed to meet the standard
requirement of l.0mg/L at the treatment plant and 0.2mg/L in the distribution system
(Freedmen 1977). These finding compare well with previously published Data (Buelow
and Walton, 1970, White, 1975, Yusuf, 1983).
A high incidence of diarrhoeal diseases was observed in the study especially
during the months of July and August at the peak of rainy season with majority (61.4%)
occurring in children under 3 years of age. Only 4 % of the respondents, were found to be
treating their water before consumption despite the fact that a significant proportion (58 or
19%) of these respondents source water from both wells and tap. The importance of water
availability as the most important factor in the control of morbidity and mortality from
diarrhoeal diseases has been highlighted in other studies ( Watt et al, 1966, WHO, 1969,
Osuhoretal, 1978, Essien, 1980, WHO,1987).
The X2 test done to determine whether there is a significant relationship between
the incidence of diarrhoea diseases and the type of water sources used for drinking
purposes revealed a strong association between water pollution and diarrhoeal diseases.
This finding is similar to previously published work in which socio-demographic factors
including the quality of water supplies and availability of good latrines were found to be
associated with the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases in developing countries (Essien 1980;
Stanton and Clemens 1987; Young and Brisco 1988).
Education and health messages were also recommended for the improvement of
available water supply sources.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA
Keywords
COMPARATIVE,, ANALYSIS,, BACTERIOLOGICAL,, QUALITY,, WATER SUPPLY,, SOURCES,, HEALTH,, PROFILE,, RESIDENTS,, KONGO CAMPUS,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,, ZARIA