ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION OF HAND DUG WELLS IN IPELE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Physical Science and Environment

ABSTRACT The physical, chemical and bacteriological quality of traditional hand dug wells in Ipele, Ondo State, that are utilized for numerous purposes were analyzed. A total of five (5) samples were collected randomly from (hand-dug wells) located in the town. The physical tests investigated included taste, colour and odour. The chemical tests also included cations and anions determination while the bacteriological analyses carried out on the water samples involves determination of E– coli and total bacteria counts. Other parameters tested are the electrical conductivity, total hardness, trace elements, total dissolved solids and alkalinity. The result of the physical tests revealed that the water is colourless, odourless and tasteless, while the result of the chemical tests revealed that the pH ranges from 6.8–7.2, indicating that the water samples are slightly acidic to alkaline, temperature ranges from 27.10c – 30.40c, Electrical conductivity ranges from 418 – 748µS/cm, total hardness ranges from (125-156) ppm and Total dissolved solids ranges from 230-573 ppm. The analyzed cations and anions in the samples showed that ca2+ranges from (13.1 – 20.4)mg/l, Mg2+ (21-28.9)mg/l, Na+ (32.4-42.1)mg/l and K+ (1.2-9.80) mg/l, while the anions showed that HCO3- ranges from (23.4-126.4) mg/L, CL (4.33-22.45) mg/L; SO42- (11.4-60.3) mg/L and NO32- (3.7-14.2) mg/L. The present of HCO3- in the water samples revealed that the water is moderately soft, the soft to moderately hard nature of the water samples make them suitable for a wide range of use. This study is to assess if any of these randomly selected wells have been contaminated.

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