ABSTRACT
The study assesses the quality of hand dug wells in relation to distance
from soakaway septic tanks in three selected peri-urban communities in the Ga
West Municipality near Accra, Ghana. Water quality analyses of
bio-physico-chemical variables (pH, Temperature, EC, turbidity, DO, BOD, TSS,
TDS, sodium, potassium, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, sulphate, chloride,
salinity, total alkalinity, total coliform, fecal coliforms and isolation of E. coli) were determined. Concentrations
of the major nutrient anion sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, and chlorides in
water samples at distances between 0 - 30 m
radial distances from the septic tank were above the WHO permissible limit of
drinking water compared to the control. All the water samples had high fecal
and total coliform counts that exceeded the international standard of 0 per 100
mL of potable water with counts ranging from 0 - 143 cfu/100 ml and 53 - 463/100 ml for FC and TC respectively. High fecal coliform
and detection of E. coli in most
samples is an indication of fecal pollution possibly from their close proximity
to soak away septic sewage. The high nutrient levels detected in samples at
distances between 0 - 30 m as compared to the controls may also be attributed
to its close proximity to septic tanks. This study, therefore, accentuates the
need for the owners of the water points to site their water source at least 30m
away from localized sources of pollution as well as treatment of groundwater before
use.