CONTAMINANTS EVALUATION AS WATER QUALITY INDICATOR IN AGO-IWOYE, SOUTH-WESTERN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study evaluates some functional parameters of well water in a densely populated university town, A go-Iwoye, South-western, Nigeria. Well water samples were collected at ten sites across the town. Analysis of th e presence of Coli form count, Salmonella count, standard plate count, physicochemical prope rties (14 elements and 2 physical parameters) as indicators of water contaminants in the wells were carried out on water samples. 40% of the well sampl es were contaminated with coli form, whereas 20% were contaminated with salmonella, thus indicating the source of contamina tion (faecal contaminant). Further analysis revealed that most o f the wells have their mineral values within the to lerant level according to WHO standard, however, the two most toxic chemicals from the recommendations of WHO were identified in well 2, 3, 5 and well 10 with values exceeding tolerant level of 0.05 mg/L for lead and 2.56 mg/L value for nitrate in well 2. Results confirm the presence of bacterial growth highly dan gerous to life in these samples. Also, wells 2, 4, & 8 were contaminated with excess concentration of Fe mineral which could make the water tasty and have bacteria grow and we lls 1, 2, 3, & 7 have excess concentrations of Cu mineral which could cause a stringent taste.