DOCSLIB.ORG

Microbial Contamination of Hand Dug Wells and Pit Latrines in Fiapre in the Sunyani, Ghana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Microbial Contamination of Hand Dug Wells and Pit Latrines in Fiapre in the Sunyani, Ghana JENRM, Vol. 4, No. 1, 85-92, 2017 Research Article Microbial Contamination of Hand Dug Wells and Pit Latrines in Fiapre in the Sunyani, Ghana. S. F. Gyasi1*, H. Abdul-Rashid2, T. Boakye2, R. Abugre2, H. K. Korda2 Abstract Water is an essential resource and contributes immensely to the survival of man. This study investigated the microbial quality of hand dug wells sited near pit latrines in households of Fiapre community. Water samples were taken from five hand-dug wells sited near pit latrines over a period of 6 months. Analysis of the results based on selected physicochemical parameters showed that, SP4 was the most acidic (5.63) with SP5 being the most basic (6.15). The study also showed that, SP5 had the highest conductivity (160.33±17.59 µs/cm) compared to the other 4 wells. With respect to microbial indicators of pollution, the study 2 showed that, for total coliforms, SP4 was the most polluted with mean log10 of 1.9 x 10 colony forming units (cfu)/100mls. 2 2 This was followed by SP3 (log10 1.44 x10 cfu/100mls) and then SP5 (log10 of 1.09 X 10 cfu/100mls). With respect to Escherichia coli, the results showed that, SP2 was the most polluted with cfu counts of 18.25cfu/100ml whiles drinking water from SP4 was the least polluted (4 cfu/100mls). Analysis of the results based on Enterococci feacalis showed that, water from SP4 was the least polluted (log10 1.125 cfu/100mls). It was also observed there was a significant association between distances from dug-wells and the nearest pit latrine with respect to E. coli loads in the water samples. The study revealed that all the microbial indicators of pollution exceeded the EPA/WHO guidelines for drinking water making them unsafe for drinking. Keywords Pit latrine, hand dug wells, water quality, bacteriological parameters 1Dept. Basic & Applied Biology, University of Energy & Natural Resources, Ghana. Email: [email protected] 2Dept. Energy & Environmental Engineering, University of Energy & Natural Resources, Ghana *Corresponding author: S. F. Gyasi Email: [email protected] Contents activity. The human body is made up of about 70 percent water and this proportion of water has to be constantly 1 Introduction 85 replenish by more intake to sustain life as levels dips due 2 Materials and Methods 86 to physical activities ( Khandkar et al., 2002). But in 2.1 Study Design.......................... 86 this case, the water to be consumed should be potable and free from pathogens to avoid causing serious health 2.2 Study Area........................... 86 implications (WHO, 2006). Even though water appears 2.3 Data Collection......................... 86 to be in plentiful supply on the earth’s surface, it is still 2.4 Sampling Procedure...................... 87 considered a rare and precious commodity. The World 2.5 Laboratory Analysis...................... 87 Health Organization (WHO) estimates that close to a 2.6 Data Analysis.......................... 87 billion people mostly living in the developing world do not 3 Results 87 have access to safe and adequate water (UNICEF/WHO, 4 Discussion 89 2012). In fact only a small proportion of the earth’s water reserves (approximately 0.03%) constitutes global 5 Conclusion. 90 water resource which is available for human use ( Deniz, 6 Acknowledgement 91 2013). Currently, over 90% of water provided for some 7 Competing interest 91 small towns in India for domestic use is extracted from groundwater (HimanshuKulkarni and Shankar, 2015 ). References 91 Groundwater supply include hand dug wells, driven and drilled wells, rock and earth springs as well as infiltration 1. Introduction galleries. It is therefore not a surprise to uncover that groundwater is being currently being consumed in increas- Water is very essential and it plays a vital role in human ing quantities and is thus fast becoming affected by waste daily life. Most of its uses include domestic, agricultural, discharge (Klaus-Dieter Balke and Yan Zhu, 2008). industrial, recreation, power production and transporta- tion (João, 2010). It is a fundamental commodity that determines the way of life and survival of humans. Water A major source of contamination to groundwater es- is therefore very vital as humans use almost every daily pecially in West Africa is inappropriate human waste Microbial Contamination of Hand Dug Wells and Pit Latrines in Fiapre in the Sunyani, Ghana. — 86/92 exposure (UNICEF/WHO, 2012). This anomaly can be 2. Materials and Methods prevented through the provision and maintenance of ap- Fiapre is a town in the Sunyani West District in the propriate environmentally friendly waste disposal systems Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. It is very close to the and facilities (Shaheed et al., 2014). Good sanitation will regional capital town of the Brong-Ahafo Region, Sunyani not exist in the absence of safe and potable water. In and lies between latitude 7o 22 ’N and 7o 35 ’N and terms of dealing with safe drinking water, the execution longitude 2o 21 ’W and 2.3500oW with 932ft (284 m) of bad sanitation systems may have a detrimental effect above sea level. It shares boundary with Sunyani to the on human health since these two elements must correlate. north, Nsoatre to the south, Odumase to the west and Investigating the contamination of ground water pollution Bakoneaba to the east within the Suyani West. Fiapre, has been the centre of attention by numerous researchers an urban community constitutes about 10.19% of Sunyani for some time now (Howard et al., 2006; Priis-Ustun et West district population. al., 2004; Adejuwon 2011). All these researchers have concluded that, one major source of pollution to ground 2.1 Study Design water is the leachate from pit latrine. A cross section study relying on analytical laboratory approach was adopted for this study. Selected physio- It has been established that pit latrine offers a safe chemical and microbial indicators of pollution were em- and reliable method of excreta disposal. Pit latrines are ployed for this research. The physicochemical parameters especially suitable for rural areas where water is scarce were limited to temperature, pH and conductivity. For (Adejuwon 2011). This is mainly because of its simplicity microbial indicators of pollution, the study relied on total both in terms of operation and maintenance as it does coliform, feacal coliform and Enterococci feacalis. not depend solely on water borne units. As a result, they are more valuable in areas where water may not 2.2 Study Area be available (Howard et al., 2006). In spite of these Fiapre, a suburb of Sunyani within the Brong Ahafo advantages, pit latrines are one of the major contributing Region of Ghana was chosen for the study based on the factors to groundwater pollution when situated near (< large proportion of inhabitants who depend on water for 30m) water sources such as shallow wells and boreholes. drinking from hand dug wells. Although this community To correct this anomaly, city engineers have construction has the supply of treated water from the Ghana Water guidelines and regulations which require pit latrines to Company, taps have failed to flow regularly due to low be built, 30 meters or more away from water sources pressure experienced during most part of the year. (boreholes, streams etc) (Graham and Polizzotto, 2013). The people of Fiapre in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana depend on hand dug wells for water for drinking and other domestic purposes. The sitting of hand dug wells in this community in many cases have violated the mandatory 30 meters distance from their pit latrines due to inadequate home land size. The siting of these two facilities in the Fiapre community (hand dug wells and pit latrines) pose a significant health risk due to possible seepage of feacal matter into the underground water system. In the face of the above mentioned, it is been speculated that ground water/hand dug wells from Fiapre could be microbially compromised. The urgent questions that require an immediate answer is that, are there microbial indicators of pollution in these hand dug wells? Could the close proximity of these latrine pits pose a significant public health hazard by virtue of Figure 1. Study Area pathogenic assault on the individuals who resort to water from these wells for drinking? These and many other research questions was the rationale for this study. The 2.3 Data Collection main objective therefore of this work was to investigate the With the help of surveyors’ tape measure, distances be- microbial quality of hand dug-wells in relation to siting of tween the hand dug- wells and the pit latrines were mea- the pit latrines in Fiapre in Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo sured and recorded. The geographic positions of the Region of Ghana as shown in Figure 1 below. selected hand dug-wells and their corresponding pit la- trines were determined using a global position system (TotemTech, Shenzen, China, 2012) GPS device. Microbial Contamination of Hand Dug Wells and Pit Latrines in Fiapre in the Sunyani, Ghana. — 87/92 Table 1. GPS Designated Sampling Points of Hand Dug and collection of gas in the Durham tubes. Wells 2.6 Data Analysis Designated Sampling Sites Coordinates Data acquired was first entered manually into Microsoft Well 1 (SP 1) N7o21’4.7412" W2o21’32.8248" Excel. The means and standard deviations of the phys- o o Well 2 (SP 2) N7 21‘10.4148" W2 21’31.3812" iochemical parameters were calculated. Bar charts were Well 3 (SP 3) N7o21‘24.408" W2o21‘27.684" Well 4 (SP 4) N7o21‘31.4388" W2o21‘5.2668" generated to present results of the bacteriological param- Well 5 (SP 5) N7o21‘24.4872" W2o21’3.1572" eters.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ministry of Health
    REPUBLIC OF GHANA MEDIUM TERM EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK (MTEF) FOR 2021-2024 MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROGRAMME BASED BUDGET ESTIMATES For 2021 Transforming Ghana Beyond Aid REPUBLIC OF GHANA Finance Drive, Ministries-Accra Digital Address: GA - 144-2024 MB40, Accra - Ghana +233 302-747-197 [email protected] mofep.gov.gh Stay Safe: Protect yourself and others © 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system or Observe the COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols transmitted in any or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Ministry of Finance Get Vaccinated MINISTRY OF HEALTH 2021 BUDGET ESTIMATES The MoH MTEF PBB for 2021 is also available on the internet at: www.mofep.gov.gh ii | 2021 BUDGET ESTIMATES Contents PART A: STRATEGIC OVERVIEW OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ................................ 2 1. NATIONAL MEDIUM TERM POLICY OBJECTIVES ..................................................... 2 2. GOAL ............................................................................................................................ 2 3. VISION .......................................................................................................................... 2 4. MISSION........................................................................................................................ 2 5. CORE FUNCTIONS ........................................................................................................ 2 6. POLICY OUTCOME
    [Show full text]
  • Asante Rule As a Factor in the Emergence of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana
    Historical Research Letter www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3178 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0964 (Online) Vol.39, 2017 Asante Rule as a Factor in the Emergence of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh, PhD Department of History, University of Ghana, PO box 12, Legon, Accra, Ghana The research is financed by Author (Sponsoring information) Abstract This paper is a study of the nature of Asante’s relations with states in the Bono part of the Bono Ahafo Region. The paper also examines the consequences of Asante rule on its vassal states. The study reveals that prior to the Asante invasion of the Bono states in 1712, Asante traders bought kola, livestock and pottery from settlements in Bono. The Asante invasion of 1712 notwithstanding, economic relations between the two increased. During the nineteenth century, Atebubu and Bonduku, Kintampo and Wankyi became important market centres visited on a regular basis by Asante traders. Politically however, Asante conquest of Bono soured relations between Asante and the Bono states as a result of the capture and often, the murder of Bono chiefs and their subjects; looting of gold resources of the states and the replacement of legitimate Bono rulers by persons without any claim to legitimacy. Asante rule resulted in the polarization of Bono society, between pro-Bono and pro-Asante states. These factions became antagonistic towards each other and fought each other on a number of occasions. Anti- Asante sentiment grew in intensity from the late nineteenth century. In pursuit of freedom and independence from Asante rule, the Bono identified with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 1950s.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sunyani-Domase (Ghana) Chieftaincy Dispute In
    JAS0010.1177/0021909618794986Journal of Asian and African StudiesAdum-Kyeremeh et al. 794986research-article2018 Original Article J A A S Journal of Asian and African Studies 2019, Vol. 54(1) 38 –51 The Sunyani-Domase (Ghana) © The Author(s) 2018 Article reuse guidelines: Chieftaincy Dispute in Retrospect sagepub.com/journals-permissions https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909618794986DOI: 10.1177/0021909618794986 journals.sagepub.com/home/jas Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh, Ebenezer Ayesu and Juliet Oppong-Boateng Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Ghana Abstract This paper interrogates the historical background to the diarchy system of rule in the Odomase traditional area in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Relying on archival documents complemented by interviews, the research reveals that unlike chieftaincy forms in other traditional Ghanaian societies, the people of Odomase have a completely different practice in electing chiefs. The two royal houses have the endorsement of central government to elect two candidates to be installed concurrently as chiefs for the traditional area. The authors argue that the dual chieftaincy arrangement in Odomase, despite its seeming challenges, is the best solution to address the intractable conflict in the traditional polity of the area. Keywords Chieftaincy, paramountcy, Antepim, Bosomtwe, diarchy Introduction Chieftaincy in Ghana Chieftaincy is one of the earliest traditional institutions in Ghana. In pre-colonial times, traditional chiefs were in charge of local administration, and were also the spiritual rulers that people looked up to for spiritual needs (Odotei and Awedoba, 2006). They were the embodiment of the customs of their people. Chiefs served as the intermediaries between the living and the dead.
    [Show full text]
  • Compilation of New Voters Register 2020 Movement Plan Ahafo Region Phase Five
    COMPILATION OF NEW VOTERS REGISTER 2020 MOVEMENT PLAN AHAFO REGION PHASE FIVE ASUNAFO SOUTH PHASE FIVE CLUSTERS 25TH JULY - 30TH JULY 1 SENR HIGH SCH SANKORE 2 ISLAMIC PRIM SCH SANKORE 3 GCB QUARTERS, SANKORE 4 CMB SHED Á'SANKORE 5 PRESBY CHURCH SANKORE 6 PENT. PRIM. SCH. SANKORE 7 METH. PRIM. SCH. SANKORE 8 D/A Á'JHS SANKORE 9 D/A 'B'JHS SANKORE 10 DEEPER LIFE CHURCH SANKORE 11 R/C PRIM. SCH. SANKORE 12 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CH SANKORE 13 D/A PRIM SCH NKAWIE 14 COCOA SHED DONKORKROM 15 CMB SHED TIABANTEN 16 D/A PRIM SCH BEPOSO 17 COCOA SHED ANUM 18 D/A PRIM SCH. MARFOKROM 19 D/A PRIM SCH. MINTUMI 20 D/A PRIM. SCH. NNANYINAANSE 21 D/A PRIM. SCH. ANWIASO 22 CMB SHED SAKYIKROM 23 D/A JHS WEJAKROM 24 CMB SHED MANHYIA ASUNAFO NORTH PHASE FIVE CLUSTERS 25TH JULY - 30TH JULY 1 CMB SHED, ABEBERESEKROM 2 CMB SHED, WAM 3 CMB SHED, KWAME PUAH 4 CMB SHED, KWAKU KRAKROM 5 CMB SHED, ASANTEMAN 6 D/A JHS, FIANKO 7 COCOA SHED, KYIRIKASA 8 SDA PRM SCH, GOASO 9 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CH, GOASO 2 10 METH PRM SCH "A", GOASO 11 HEALTH MGT BLK, GOASO 12 AHAFOMAN SHTS, GOASO 13 D/A PRM SCH, NYAMEBEKYERE 2 14 D/A "B" JHS, AYOMSO 15 PENTECOST PRM SCH, BEDIAKO 16 SALVATION CHURCH, MIM 17 APOSTOLIC CHURCH GH, MIM 18 D/A JHS, ASUKESE 19 METH JHS, MIM 20 SDA JHS, FETEEAGYA 21 ZION PRM SCH, MIM 22 OPEN SPACE, TENKORANGKROM 23 PENTECOST CHURCH, AHENKRO 24 DAUDAKROM PREP SCH 25 SWEET MOTHER PREP SCH, AKRODIE 26 GES CIRCUIT OFFICE, AKRODIE 27 CMB SHED, DANKWAKROM 28 D/A PRM SCH, ADIEYEPENA 29 D/A PRM SCH, AWORAKESE 30 D/A PRM SCH, POMAAKROM 31 CMB SHED, MANUKROM NO2 32 D/A PRM SCH, TIPOKROM ASUTIFI SOUTH PHASE FIVE CLUSTERS 25TH JULY - 30TH JULY 1 R/C CHURCH MEHAME 2 MEHAME MOSQUE MEHAME 3 METH.
    [Show full text]
  • The Case of the Bono Kyempim Chiefs Association
    The International Journal Of Humanities & Social Studies (ISSN 2321 - 9203) www.theijhss.com THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES Party Politics and Traditional Authority in Ghana: The Case of the Bono Kyempim Chiefs Association Dr. Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh Lecturer, Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana Abstract: This paper examines the basis for the Bono Kyempim chiefs’ alliance with the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) of Ghana in the 1950s. It also evaluates the effects of the alliance on the Bono Kyempim states. The Bono Kyempim states allegedly suffered indignities as members of the Asante Confederacy in the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. When the Asante chiefs openly supported the National Liberation Movement (NLM), a Kumasi-based political movement in 1954, the Bono Kyempim chiefs agitated for secession from Asante. To attract electoral votes from the Bono area in the multi-party national elections in the mid-1950s, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and his Convention Peoples Party (CPP), openly supported the Bono Kyempim chiefs and in fulfilment of his promise to the Bono chiefs, created the Brong-Ahafo Region in 1959. The Bono chiefs’ alliance with the CPP affected villages and towns, the traditional Bono states’ relations with their Asante neighbours, the chieftaincy institution and ordinary citizens. Using information gathered from interviews with informants and qualitative analysis of archival and secondary sources, the paper contends that the politicization of chieftaincy among the Bono Kyempim of Ghana had some positive effects but deep and lasting negative implications on chieftaincy in the Bono Kyempim states during and after the 1950s.
    [Show full text]
  • (Ethanol 70%) CEL CHEMISTS LIMITED PO BO
    LIST OF REGISTERED HAND SANITIZERS No. PRODUCT NAME LOCAL AGENT CEL CHEMISTS LIMITED P. O. BOX 543 HOHOE CEL HAND SANITIZER VOLTA REGION 1 (Ethanol 70%) TEL: 0547516760 PHARMA LAUD K. LIMITED P.O. BOX UPO 747 KNUST LAUD K PHARMACY KUMASI RUBBING ALCOHOL TEL: 0544706200, 0209422670 2 (Isopropyl Alcohol 70%) VICMAG PHARMACY LTD P. O. BOX TN 783 TESHIE NUNGUA REDDY SANITIZER SPRAY ACCRA (Ethyl 3 Alcohol 70%) TEL: 0302714868/0243373127 SKYWAY NAYABI ENTERPRISE C/O MR. P.K MENSAH P. O. BOX AN8376 SKYD HAND SANITIZER ACCRA 4 (Ethanol 70%) TEL: 0249676323/0271900105 1 AFRICA INDUSTRIES LIMITED PLOT NO 19 SPINTEX ROAD ACCRA 1 AFRICAHAND SANITIZER TEL: 0209214165 5 (Ethanol 70%) MESDARA ENTERPRISE P. O. BOX ML 2 2 STAR HAND SANITIZER WEIJA GBAWE (Isopropyl ACCRA 6 Alcohol 70%) TEL: 0243065188 ATE A BISA HERBAL CENTER P. O. BOX 247 2 SURE HAND SANITIZER KOFORIDUA (Ethanol EASTERN REGION 7 70%) TEL: 0541494159, 0243634002 OSBAMAX ALL DAY INDUSTRIES LIMITED P. O. Box 889 OBUASI 24/7 HAND SANITIZER Tel: 0244041032 8 (Isopropyl Alcohol 70%) 2BD GHANA LIMITED P. O. BOX 2059 ACCRA 2BD HAND SANITIZER TEL: 0205124255 9 (Ethanol 80%) ANGEL GROUP OF COMPANIES LIMITED P. O. BOX KS 13875 3 HAND SANITIZER (Ethyl ADUM Alcohol KUMASI 10 70%) TEL: 020511112, 0242004448, 0262004448 PHARMATAB PHARMACY P.O. BOX MC 65 TAKORADI 360 GERMI KLEAN HAND TEL: 0244282214 SANITIZER (70% Isopropyl 11 Alcohol) PHARMATAB PHARMACY COMPANY LIMITED 360 GERMI KLEAN RUBBING P. O. BOX MC 65 ALCOHOL TAKORADI 12 (70% Isopropyl Alcohol) TEL: 0244282214 DATAC COSMETIC ENTERPRISE P. O. BOX 19 ASHANTI BEKWAI 360 HAND SANITIZER (60% ASHANTI REGION 13 Ethanol) TEL: 0544477375 360 NATURALS PLOT 22 BLOCK 13 ASOKWA KUMASI 360 NATURALS HAND SANITIZER GEL(70% TEL: 0243243087 0240887960 14 Isopropyl Alcohol) THE PHARMACY DEPARTMENT 37 MILITARY HOSPITAL NEGHELLI BARRACKS ACCRA TEL: 0302777575, 0243236387 37 HOSPITAL SANITIZER (75% 15 Ethanol) GAIL HYDE VENTURES P.
    [Show full text]
  • Kwame Arhin a Profile of Brong Kyempim.Pdf
    ESSAYS ON THE SOCIETY, HISTORY AND POLITICS OF THE BRONG PEOPLE Edited with introduction by Kwame Arhin (ij vut venu ry ciiM . ^J~y*sdu~-^ A PROFILE OF BRONG KYEMPIM (Essays on the Archaeology, History, Language and Politics of the Brong Peoples of Ghana) Edited with Introduction By KWAME ARHIN Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon Published by AFRAM PUBLICATIONS (GHANA) LIMITED P. O. BOX M. 18, ACCRA. GHANA in co-operation with INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA. LEGON (f) Institute of A frican Studies University o f Ghana, Legon 1979 Printed at New Times Corporation, Accra TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ............................................................................. 5 Contributors ................................................................. 7 Map of Brong Ahafo ..................................................... 8 Introduction: The B ro n g ..................................................... 9 Chapter p age M. POSNANSKY i Archaeological Aspects of the Brong-Ahafo Region 22 K. O. ODOOM ii A Note on the History of Islam in Brong-Ahafo ... 36 NANA KWAKYE AMEYAW & KWAME ARHIN iii Bono Manso and Techiman..............................................49 KWAME ARHIN iv Asante Security Posts in the Northwest ................. 56 K. A. BRITWUM Kwadwo Adinkra of Gyaman: A study of the Relations between the Brong Kingdom of Gya- v man and Asante c. 1800-1818 68 K. Y. DAAKU vi Politics Among the Eastern Brong ................................. 80 FLORENCE DOLPHYNE vii The Brong (Bono) Dialect of Akan ................ 88 F. K. DRAH viii The Brong Political Movement ............................... 119 PREFACE With the exception of chapter viii, all the papers in this volume were read and discussed at an inter-disciplinary seminar on the Brong district of the Brong-Ahafo Region held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon from 16th to 18th March, 1973.
    [Show full text]