Animal Research International (2014) 11(1): 1905 – 1916 1905 ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN WELLS WITHIN THE BOMBALI DISTRICT, SIERRA LEONE 1IBEMENUGA, Keziah Nwamaka and 2AVOAJA, Diana Akudo 1Department of Biological Sciences, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Mount Aureol, Freetown, Sierra Leone. 2Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Michael Okpara University, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Ibemenuga, K. N. Department of Biological Sciences, Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria. Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 8126421299 ABSTRACT This study assessed the quality of 60 groundwater wells within the Bombali District of Sierra Leone. Water samples from the wells were analysed for physical (temperature, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids and salinity), chemical (pH, nitrate-nitrogen, sulphate, calcium, ammonia, fluoride, aluminium, iron, copper and manganese) parameters using potable water testing kit; and bacteriological (faecal and non-faecal coliforms) qualities. Results show that 73% of the samples had turbidity values below the WHO, ICMR and United USPHS standards of 5 NTU. The electrical conductivity (µµµS/cm) of 5% of the whole samples exceeded the WHO guideline value, 8% of the entire samples had values higher than the WHO, ICMR and USPHS recommended concentration. In terms of iron, 25% of all the samples had values in excess of WHO, ICMR and USPHS recommended value of 0.3mg/l. For manganese, 12% of the entire samples had values more than the WHO and ICMR standards. On the other hand, more water samples (22%) had manganese values above USPHS guideline value. For bacteriological quality, 28% of the wells were polluted by faecal and non-faecal coliforms. 60% and 40% of the entire samples had faecal and non-faecal coliforms respectively above the WHO standard. Remedial measures recommended include regular monitoring of the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of water yield from these wells as well as teaching of the communities' basic sanitation and hygiene practices. Keywords : Groundwater quality, Well waters, Physical, chemical and biological characteristics, Sierra Leone INTRODUCTION (Hassan et al. , 2008). Water covers nearly 71% of the earth’s surface, it accounts for 66% of Water is an important natural resource that the mass of an adult human body, and it is requires proper management to ensure its needed by all living things (McMurry and quality, quantity and sustainability. Water, the Castellion, 2003). Therefore water is life. liquid earth, is the most familiar substance on Needless to say that water is an indispensable earth. Life evolved in water and living things are resource needed for socio-economic 70 – 90% water (Mader, 1993). From development of any country (Chima et al ., hydrological statistics, the volume of water 2007). The availability of wholesome and world wide amounts to some 1.4 x 10 9 Km 3 reliable water resource is a pivot upon which ISSN: 1597 – 3115 ARI 2014 11(1): 1905 – 1916 www.zoo-unn.org Ibemenuga and Avoaja 1906 man’s choice of siting residential areas revolves. deaths in the developing countries are related to Kolo and Tukura (2007) indicated that the water (Mkandawire, 2008). Yearly, about 4 development of many urban towns and cities million children under the age of five die in warrants construction of small lakes and developing countries due to water related reservoirs across small rivers and streams to problems (USAID, 1990). In Sierra Leone, over supply these towns and cities with pipe borne 50% of child mortality is associated with the water. This is because man needs water for prevailing poor water and sanitation services several purposes such as farming, production, (MEWR, 2010). Also in Sierra Leone, it is transport, recreation and sports, as well as estimated that 47% urban and 32% rural have domestic activities including cooking, laundry, access to reliable water supply services (MEWR, bathing and drinking. 2010). The history of socio-economic Many freshwater resources are development, whether in the hydraulic contaminated through human activities (Mason, civilization of the Fertile Crescent or in the 1996), rapid industrial technology, human developed world today, may be looked at population explosion, poor sanitation facilities essentially from the extent to which we manage and indiscriminate defaecation, sewage and water and make water regularly available. This waste disposal. The bare land after construction explains why a recent publication on freshwater and building in marginal areas has accelerated calls it the “human imperative” (NEST, 1991). surface run-off and erosion thereby increasing Thus adequate water management is the right organic and faecal matter (Mkandawire, 2008) key to unlock economic development and for groundwater wells which are primary societal well being. The modern world is aware supplement for surface waters. of the relationship between water and water- The bacteriological quality of water borne diseases as vital public health issue sources is based on estimation of faecal (Asonye et al ., 2007). In Africa, there is coliforms. Faecal coliforms and streptococci are inadequate availability of potable water. This is commonly used as indicator organisms for the echoed by Mason (1996) who stated that about microbiological quality of water and waste water half of the inhabitants of developing countries (Clesceri et al., 1998; Masamba and Mazvimavi, do not have access to safe drinking water and 2008). Human faeces contaminate water 75% have no sanitation, some of their wastes sources and contain micro-organisms including eventually contaminating their drinking water bacteria, cysts and protozoan. One gram of supply. About 1.3 billion people in developing faeces contains 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 world are compelled to use contaminated water bacteria, 1000 parasite cyst and 100 parasite for drinking and cooking and over six million eggs (UNESCO, 2007; Pritchard et al ., 2008). children are believed to die every year from The horizontal movement of contaminants from water related illnesses (Fernando, 2005; pollution sources such as waste dumps, pit Mkandawire, 2008). Globally, 1.1 billion people latrines, sewage and animal dung pollute do not have access to safe water and 2.4 billion groundwater wells (Pritchard et al. , 2008). people are without adequate sanitation (Lucas Hence NEST (1991) reported that pit latrine and Gilles, 2003; Garba et al ., 2008). An located close to wells pollute them with faecal estimated 3.43 million Sierra Leonean do not material. This study investigated the physico- have access to adequate sanitation facilities chemical and bacteriological quality of (MEWR, 2010). Contaminated water, poor groundwater in wells within Bombali District, hygiene and sanitation adversely affect human Sierra Leone. health. Throughout the world about 2.3 billion people suffer from diseases that are linked to MATERIALS AND METHODS water related problems (WHO, 1997; Asonye et al ., 2007) such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, Sampling: Water samples from 60 selected typhoid fever and infectious hepatitis. About wells were collected from May – June 2010. 80% of all illness and over one-third of the Two samples were collected from each well for Animal Research International (2014) 11(1): 1905 – 1916 Groundwater quality in wells within the Bombali district, Sierra Leone 1907 physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis in RESULTS AND DISCUSSION new plastic bottles with their caps tightly secured. The samples were placed in iced- Physical parameters: A temperature range of coolers and transported to the laboratory, 25 0C – 29.9 0C was recorded during the study where they were stored in a refrigerator (Table 1). The temperature of the studied wells pending analyses. was highest at Makari and lowest at Manakoh locations. The temperature of these studied Physico-chemical Assay: In-situ wells was not compared to WHO, ICMR and measurements of temperature, hydrogen ion USPHS since these bodies have no standard for concentration (pH) dissolved oxygen (DO) and water temperature. dissolved iron were taken using mercury-in- Turbidity measured in Naphenometric glass thermometer, digital pH and DO meters Turbidity Units (NTU) varied between 47.0 NTU and the Dr/2010 HACH spectrophotometer, and 0.2 NTU and were recorded in Binkole and respectively. Conductivity, salinity and total Mapaki communities wells, respectively. The dissolved solids (TDS) were measured using the study revealed that the turbidity of 44(73%) of HACH portable conductivity meter (CO150). the sampled well waters were within the Turbidity was estimated using the turbidity recommended maximum concentration limits of meter. Copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nitrate 5 NTU, while 16(27%) were above the - (NO 3 ), fluoride (Fl), chloride (Cl), aluminium maximum permissible concentration (Al) and ammonia (NH 3) were determined recommended by WHO, ICMR and USPHS spectrophotometrically (APHA, 2005). (Table 1). Turbidity is a physical factor that reduces the clarity of water. It is caused by Bacteriological Analysis: Bacteriological suspended organic and inorganic matter, water quality analysis was carried out on all the plankton and microbes in water. Suspended water samples using the membrane filtration inorganic matter such as clay and silt are technique as provided by Oxfam DelAqua kit. washed from hills into natural waters. Increased 10ml, 20ml and 50ml volumes of water samples input of silt/fine