ASSESSMENT OF THE pH VALUE OF DRINKING WATER AMONGST RESIDENTS IN AYEGUN AREA OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

This study is an assessment of pH value of drinking water among residents of Ayegun area of Ibadan, Nigeria. After obtaining permission from respective households, eight water samples were collected from 4 water sources within the 11 wards comprising Ayegun. The sources include well, rivers, bore holes, sachet water from two different water package firms. Two samples each were collected in clean containers except the sachet waters that were already packed in polythene bag. The samples were analysed in the laboratory for their respective pH values. Two methods were used for the analysis, which are: simple dipping of red and blue litmus papers to determine the acidity/alkalinity/ neutrality of the various samples, and determination of the actual pH values of the samples through mixture of the samples with litmus solution. The emerging colour was then compared with standard colours for various degree of acidity and alkalinity. Also, 5 persons each, making a total of 20 people were interviewed on their experience about the water they consume in their locality. A self developed interview guide was used. The results revealed that sources of water in Ayegun village were river (9.2%), well (32.8%), bore-hole (17.6%) and sachet water (40.4%). When analysed, results showed pH of river water to be 9.3, well - 5.8, bore hole - 8.7 and sachet water was 5.7. The ages of respondents ranged from 22 to 66 with a mean 46 ± 5.3, and they comprised 7 males and 13 females. The results showed that 67% of them were civil servants, 13% farmers, 11% traders and 9% artisans. It was also shown that majority of them (93%) were settlers in Ayegun area while their places of occupations were in various areas of Ibadan main city. Upon request about their views on the health implications of the water they drank in the area, majority of them - 64% did not notice any detrimental effect of the water on their health status. However, 80% of respondents with sachet water as main water source gave various complaint about the odour and their body feeling after consuming the water. The water were collected from the four water sources for observation with naked eye for physical contaminants, level of taste and for observation for microbial load under a microscope showed that well water contained sand particles and was tasteless; river too contained sand particles and salty in taste; bore hole contained no particle and tasteless while sachet water too contained no particle but had sharp taste on tongue. The results of the hypothesis tested showed statistically significant differences among pH values of the four water samples analysed. The study was concluded by giving advice to government to sink more bore holes in Ayegun area.