An investigation of selected microbial pollutants in groundwater sources in Yenegoa Town, Bayelsa, Nigeria



Document title: An investigation of selected microbial pollutants in groundwater sources in Yenegoa Town, Bayelsa, Nigeria
Journal: Estudos de biologia
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000415090
ISSN: 0102-2067
Authors: 1
2
Institutions: 1University of Port Harcourt, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Port Harcourt, Rivers. Nigeria
2Abia State University, Department of Geography and Planning, Uturu. Nigeria
Year:
Season: Ene-Jun
Volumen: 35
Number: 84
Pages: 77-84
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico, descriptivo
English abstract Potable water is a scarce resource in Yenegoa (Bayelsa Nigeria) town because of problems of ground water conditions and contamination. Residents in the town depend therefore on imported water and unwholesome ground water sources for sustenance. Over 200 boreholes exist in the city and constitute the major source of domestic water to this growing third world city. Thus, the present study aimed to diagnose the quality of the water consumed by the population. Thirty boreholes were therefore selected and the presence of readily analyzable biological contaminants in ground water sources in the city and their health implications were examined. Selected micro-organisms (coliform, E. coli, Pseudomonas and Salmonella) where analyzed and compared with WHO/FEPA water quality standards. Results revealed the presence of hazardous biological communities in the ground water sources especially in the Opolo-Okaka-Old Yenegoa-Swali axis, while groundwater sources from the up-gradient and more clayey Igbogene-Agudama- Okutukutu axis were relatively free of the selected biological contaminants. The study concludes that ground water in the Yenegoa central district and the Swali areas su!er intense biological contamination which therefore exposes inhabitants to water borne diseases such as: cholera, diarrhea, typhoid fever, bacterial and amebic dysentery, polio infections, hepatitis and schistosomiasis. Suspected contamination sources is seepage from oft-ill constructed soak-away pits. Also, groundwater problems arising from the seasonal "ooding of porous soil formations leading to the collapse of the water table especially in the long rainy season that characterize the study area is also a major causative factor
Portuguese abstract A água potável é um recurso escasso em Yenegoa (Bayelsa, Nigeria), um problema agravado devido a problemas de qualidade e contaminação. Os moradores da cidade dependem de água importada e de fontes de águas subterrâneas para sua sobrevivência. Na cidade existem mais de 200 poços, os quais correspondem à principal fonte de água para uso doméstico desta crescente cidade do terceiro mundo. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo diagnosticar a qualidade da água consumida pela população. Para tal, foram selecionados 30 desses poços nos quais foi avaliada a presença de contaminantes biológicos prontamente analisáveis (coliformes, E. coli, Pseudomonas, e Salmonella). As análises foram comparadas com os padrões OMS/FEPA de qualidade de água. Os resultados revelaram a presença de comunidades biológicas perigosas nas fontes de águas subterrâneas, especialmente no eixo Opolo-Okaka-Old Yenegoa-Swali, enquanto as fontes de águas subterrâneas superiores e mais argilosas do eixo Igbogene-Agudama- Okutukutu se apresentaram relativamente livres de contaminantes. O estudo evidencia que a água subterrânea na região central do distrito de Yenegoa e as áreas Swali sofrem contaminação biológica intensa expondo seus habitantes ao risco de contraírem doenças transmitidas pela água, tais como: cólera, diarreia, febre tifoide, disenteria bacteriana e amebiana, infecções da pólio, hepatite e esquistossomose. Possíveis fontes de contamina- ção incluem vazamentos de poços sépticos mal construídos, bem como problemas decorrentes da inundação sazonal em áreas de solos porosos, especialmente durante o longo período de chuvas que caracterizam a área de estudo
Disciplines: Biología
Keyword: Ecología,
Aguas subterráneas,
Contaminación del agua,
Contaminación microbiana,
Calidad del agua,
Agua potable
Keyword: Biology,
Ecology,
Underground water,
Water pollution,
Microbial pollution,
Water quality,
Drinking water
Full text: Texto completo (Ver PDF)