Water caused diseases prevalence resulting from Septic Contamination of Hand-Dug Wells in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on assessing water caused diseases prevalence resulting from septic contamination of hand-dug wells in Ughelli, Delta State. The study deployed experimental and ex-post-facto research designs. Water samples were collected at varying distances from the wells for a period of one year and their physico-chemical and bacteriological properties were compared with the WHO standards. Medical records of patients were collected from government hospitals and correlated with water quality values, using MLR. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of well-water was within the WHO limits at 5 to 30 meters away from the septic tanks. Biological characteristics revealed 24 colonies on average in water samples at 5metres distance of septic tank to shallow wells. This showed that it was possible for human health to be affected when such water is ingested. The MLR revealed r value of 0.52 and was able to explain that 27.5% cases of water related illness were attributable to quality of drinking water alone. The MLR was also significant at p<0.05. (F-6.1, sig-0.001) implying that, water related illnesses such as typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea significantly depended on water quality of hand-dug wells in Ughelli. Siting hand-dug wells at a minimum distance of 25metres from septic tanks, regulation of neighbourhood wells and septic systems are recommended to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination from septic systems.