EFFECT OF PIT LATRINES ON HAND DUGWELL WATER QUALITY - A CASE STUDY OF IJERO- EKITI COMMUNITY IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Water samples were taken from 6 private hand dug wells sited at major locations within the community. The samples were assessed for both the bacteriological and physicochemical parameters. Water quality parameters: pH, chloride, nitrate, ammonium, electrical conductivity, turbidity, Iron, Phosphate, sulphate, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total acidity and total alkalinity were determined using standard methods. Faecal coliform, Heterotrophic, Vibrio and Salmonella spp. counts were determined by standard methods. All the physico-chemical parameters analyzed (except turbidity and nitrate) fell within the WHO and EPA standards for drinking water having a p-value of 0.05.The bacteriological analyses, however, showed that the total heterotrophic count ranged from 1.3x10 6 -1.5x10 7 cfu/ml, the highest coliform count was 3.6x10 6 cfu/ml, highest Salmonella-Shigella counts was 6.3x10 3 cfu/ml) and Highest E. coli count was 2.8x10 4 cfu/ml). The bacteria isolated from water samples in this work included Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhosa, Shigella spp, Vibrio cholerae, Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp. with Salmonella sp. However, Shigella and V. cholera were only isolated from A, B, D, E samples. Epidemiological data revealed that the reported cases in clinics of water borne diseases like diarrhea and typhoid fever were high, showing infections through consumption of contaminated water from the hang-dug wells. The presence of these biological indicators suggest that the water is potentially harmful to human health if consumed untreated. This study revealed that he presence of these biological indicators suggest that the water is potentially harmful to human health if consumed untreated. Appropriate awareness and local institutional capacity building through provision of well-protected latrines, piped water and sustainable sanitation to reduce potential risk to public health is therefore advocated.