Effect of Depth on Microbial Pollution of Shallow Wells in Makurdi Metropoilis, Benue State, Nigeria.
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Date
2011-07
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Abstract
This study looked at the effect of depth on the microbial pollution of shallow wells in the
three floodplains of Makurdi metropolis of Benue State, Nigeria. Water samples from the
wells were collected and analyzed monthly for seven months from February to August
(covering both wet and dry seasons) using the pour plate technique. The assessment was
for the presence coliform bacteria. The species isolated were Salmonella typhilis,
Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Proteus spp. and total coliform. The pollution of
wells was found to increase with decrease in depth and decrease with increase in depth.
The water table varied from 4.3m (in wet season) to 6.4m (in dry season). Generally
pollution level in the floodplains was between 17cfu/ml and 297cfu/ml of bacterial
population. No well studied met the limit by World Health organization (WHO) for drinking
water which is 0cfu/ml and 10cfu/ml by the National Agency Food and Drugs Administration
and Control, Nigeria (NAFDAC). This shows that wells must be up to 15m deep so as to be
free from pollution. Screening the wells to the depth of 15m and treatment by disinfection
before drinking were the recommendations made.
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Keywords
Floodplains, disinfection, septic effluent, pollution, coliform, wells, Nigeria
Citation
Isikwue M O, Iorver D, Onoja S B. Effect of Depth on Microbial Pollution of Shallow Wells in Makurdi Metropoilis, Benue State, Nigeria. British Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2011 Jul-Sept; 1(3): 66-73.