Effects of Septic Tank on the Quality of Groundwater from Hand-Dug Wells in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria

In modern day Nigeria, there are boreholes and pipe born water, which cost a fortune to put in place. Common man had to resort to digging wells as the only cost effective alternative source of drinking water and for daily domestic purposes. This study was aimed at determining the effects of septic tank on the quality of groundwater from hand dug wells. Water samples were collected in ten hand-dug wells spread within Effurun and analyzed for pH, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity and Faecal coliform. The results indicated a pH in Location A (6.60), locations B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J (5.20 - 6.40), Temperature (28.0oC - 30.0oC), Electrical Conductivity in locations A, B, E, H and I, (430 – 720 µS/cm), locations C, D, F, G and J (260 – 380 µS/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (204.8 mg/l to 2816 mg/l), Turbidity in all the ten locations (2.00 -6.00 NTU), locations C and I (6 NTU), Faecal Coliform all the ten locations indicated the presence of faecal coliform (10.70 -29.00 cfu/100ml). It was concluded that there was possible contamination from septic tank due the proximity to the hand dug wells, as the distances between Wells and the septic tanks failed short of the minimum recommended distance of 50ft, couple with the fact that some of the Wells do not have covers. The water from all the ten wells in the ten different Locations is not portable; hence it raises serious public health concerns to the residents of these areas. Boiling of water before use is highly recommended to eliminate faecal coliform.