ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER WATER QUALITY FROM SHALLOW WELLS AND BOREHOLES: A CASE STUDY IN GUMBI VILLAGE T/A MAKWANGWALA NTCHEU DISTRICT
Abstract
Access to drinking water from unsafe sources is widespread amongst communities in rural areas such as Gumbi village in traditional authority Makwangwala Ntcheu District part central Malawi. This situation puts many individuals and communities at risk of waterborne diseases and teeth problems. Despite Mpira water supply trust (MWST) supplying piped water to the area, most of these residents heavily rely on groundwater sources due to financial constraints and insufficient water supply. However, there are problems associated with drinking contaminated water. There still remains a gap regarding the quality of drinking water from such unsafe sources. This study was conducted in July 2021 to determine the microbial and physico-chemical quality of drinking water from shallow wells and boreholes in Gumbi village, Ntcheu T/A Makwangwala. Water samples (n=30) were collected in pre-cleaned 1L polyethylene bottles from shallow wells (n=9) and borehole (n=1) in July 2021. For microbial analyses, water samples were collected in 250ml autoclaved glass jars. Membrane filtration was used to determine E.coli and Total coliforms. pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, total alkalinity (carbonates and bicarbonates), total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, chlorides and fluorides were analyzed. Excel and Minitab (version 17.1) was used to analyze the microbial, chemical and physical parameters and results were subjected to a one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results obtained showed that 90% of the sources were contaminated with faecal matter due to the presence of E.coli above recommended Malawi bureau of standards, 100% of the samples were contaminated with total coliforms. Levels of pH, EC, TDS, total alkalinity (carbonates and bicarbonates), total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness and chlorides were within the recommended standards of MBS while some sources failed to meet the MBS recommended standards for turbidity and fluorides. Based on results from the study, water from shallow wells and boreholes was not suitable for drinking in terms of its microbial quality, turbidity levels and fluoride concentrations as they were higher than the recommended guideline values.
Research summary
Despite Mpira water supply trust (MWST) supplying piped water to the area, most of these residents heavily rely on groundwater sources due to financial constraints and insufficient water supply. Results obtained showed that 90% of the sources were contaminated with faecal matter due to the presence of E.coli above recommended Malawi bureau of standards, 100% of the samples were contaminated with total coliforms. Levels of pH, EC, TDS, total alkalinity (carbonates and bicarbonates), total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness and chlorides were within the recommended standards of MBS while some sources failed to meet the MBS recommended standards for turbidity and fluorides. Based on results from the study, water from shallow wells and boreholes was not suitable for drinking in terms of its microbial quality, turbidity levels and fluoride concentrations as they were higher than the recommended guideline values.