ABSTRACT
Water is an important ingredient for life and it is an effective vehicle for the transmission
of diseases when contaminated. Therefore every responsive and responsible government
of any country strive to make safe water available and accessible to its populace
throughout the year.
The study aimed to assess the quality of drinking water in Bosso town of Niger state,
Nigeria.
Forty samples of water from different sources ( Bosso pond, wells, borehole, tap and
sachet water ) were analyzed for faecal coliform (Escherichia. coli), total coliform, PH,
residual chlorine, total dissolved solids, turbidity, colour, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, iron,
and fluorine using membrane filtration method, PH meter, HACH digital titrator, Total
dissolved solids/Conductivity meter, and DR 2000 (HACH) spectrophotometer.
Selection of water samples was carried out using proportionate allocation, equal
allocation, simple random sampling and systematic sampling methods depending on the stage.
Four hundred and twenty-two household heads were interviewed to determine
their common sources of drinking water in dry and in raining seasons, perception on the
physical quality (colour, odour and taste) of water and availability and accessibility of
water. Selection of households to be interviewed was done using household selection
grid, simple random sample and systematic sample methods.
Finally, all the one hundred and fifteen wells in Bosso were inspected to
determine their sanitary condition based on WHO standard for improved (protected) well. The study revealed that less than 30% of households had access to tap water within their
residences.
Of all the wells inspected in Bosso town, only 20% (23) of the wells can be considered
improved/ protected. There was high bacterial contamination of most (80%) of the water
samples. The faecal coliform (Escherichia coli count) varies from 0 to 436 cfc/100ml.
Similarly, all treated water samples (tap and sachet) failed to the meet WHO guideline
value for residual chlorine which is 0.5mg/l and above.
The study also showed that 33.3% and 11.1% of well water samples had nitrate (NO3)
nitrite (NO2) contents above the guideline level respectively. All samples of water from
other sources had nitrate and nitrite content within the recommended values.
Majority (93.75%) of the tap water samples met the WHO guideline for fluoride while
56.25% showed compliance for iron content.
The single water sample from borehole failed to meet the guideline value for both
fluoride and iron.