Potability of Vended Water Quality from Source to Consumption: A Case of Anguwar Liman Area of Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria

Authors: Ogbozige, F.J.

DOI Info: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8093925

ABSTRACT

In recent years, vended water has become a major source of drinking water in most of the urban centers of developing countries due to inadequate piped water supplies. Hence, this study assessed the quality of vended water and its level of contamination at source, during transportation and at point of use in Unguwar Liman area of Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria during rainy and dry seasons. The method employed involved assessing the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of vended water at each point during both seasons and comparing the findings with regulatory standards. Laboratory analysis of the water samples was carried out for pH, turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, phosphate, colour, total dissolved solids (TDS) and total coliform (TC). The result of the findings showed that the mean concentrations of the three points assessed for TDS, BOD, nitrate and phosphate during dry and wet seasons were 670 and 257 mg/l; 1.052 and 0.928 mg/l; 0.105 and 0.178 mg/l then 0.0006 and 0.0068 mg/l respectively. Similarly, the mean values and concentrations for pH, turbidity and total coliform during dry and wet seasons were 8.3 and 7.3; 1.693 and 2.663 NTU, and 4 and 27 MPN/100ml respectively while the colour of all the samples during both seasons was constant at 5 TCU. It was established that the vended water of the study area possesses better quality during the dry season hence, inhabitants of the study area were advised to disinfect vended water mostly during the rainy season before consumption.

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