EFFECT OF SEPTIC TANKS ON WATER FROM SHALLOW WELLS IN AKURE METROPOLIS

Abstract

This research project dealt primarily with the effect of Septic tanks on water from shallow wells in Akure metropolis. Shallow wells, being the main water source available to almost every home in the study area which forms part of underground water is facing problems of pollution which can constitute threats to the quality of underground water and public health now or in future. The criteria used in determining the effect of Septic tanks on shallow wells was to take water samples from located wells in the metropolis and analyze them to determine the physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The results of the physical, chemical and bacteriological qualities of the sampled wells have ranges of 7.0- 8.0 for pH, 20.0oc- 27.90c for Temperature, 113 µmho- 1116µmho for conductivity, 26.4mg/l 180.5mg/l for hardness, 18.1mg/l - 140.0mg/l for Calcium, 0.03mg/l 0.88mg/l for manganese, 1.0NTU- 10.0NTU for Turbidity, 1.0mg/l - 311.0mg/l for Sulphate, 0.0mg/l- 140.0mg/l for Nitrate, 0.0mg/l- 3.0mg/l for Phosphate, 0.0TCU- 40.0TCU for colour and 0.0MPN-18.5MPN for Coliform. The results obtained were compared with WHO International Standard on potable water and wells 6,11,13,14,17,19,21,22,25,27,31,41,53 and 55 are contaminated, but the level of contamination is within limit with exception of wells 1, 36 and 44 which have contaminant concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible limit. Shallow wells sited very close to the septic tanks with distance less than 14.0m suffered contamination and had concentrations of chloride, calcium, hardness, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate and coliform exceeding the maximum concentration limits. The concentrations of the parameters mentioned above were used to formulate mathematical relationship between concentrations and distance and model equations were obtained.