Bacteriological Quality in Some Hand-Dug well Water as Source of Drinking Water in Ban Village, Plateau State, Nigeria

Access to potable water and healthy environment has been a concern worldwide. Developing nation like Nigeria has been facing critical challenge in accessing safe drinking water. Therefore, the people still depend on unsafe water sources such as rivers, streams and hand dug wells. This study examined the bacteriological quality of 16 drinking dug well water in four selected communities (Bantin, Tom, Bator and Rek) in Ban village of Plateau state, Nigeria. Four samples from each of the wells were collected from the communities. Biological contaminations were investigated using standard method (Multiple test tube method). The biological contamination rates were higher (110coliforms/100 mL) in Tom and 108 coliforms/100 mL in Bantin followed by 81.27 coliforms/100 mL in Banton and Rek with 67.78 coliforms/100 mL being the least (Tom>Batin>Bator>Rek), all indicated gross pollution. However, the only well that was found to be fit for human consumption was Bator B. The results suggested that the well water contamination in these areas is largely due to faecal contamination. It is recommended that hand-dug well water be treated prior to consumption in order to curtail infection and distance between latrine and dug well should not be less than 30 m.