Abstract

Aim: The microbial and physico-chemical quality of water from boreholes and hand-dug wells in urban communities within the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti region was studied. Method: Water samples were collected from three boreholes and three hand-dug wells selected randomly from each community and the water samples analyzed using various standard methods. Results: pH of the water from boreholes and hand-dug wells ranged from pH 4.34-5.13 units which fell below WHO guideline value for drinking water. The water was non-saline with all TDS values less than 1000 mg/l and soft to slightly hard (18.89-127.00 mg/l CaCO3). The anion (SO4-2, NO3-, Cl- and F-) levels in the water samples from selected boreholes and hand-dug wells were observed to be low and fell within the WHO guideline values. One borehole at Ejisu and two boreholes at Juaben recorded total coliform in water samples with mean values of 2.08 x 104 and 3.06 x 104 CFU 100ml-1 respectively with zero counts for faecal coliform and E. coli. Boreholes at Fumesua and Bonwire recorded zero counts for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli. Only one borehole at Besease recorded total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli in water samples. Most hand-dug wells selected for the study recorded total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli in samples with mean values of 4.92 x 105, 1.01x105 and 3.81 x 104 CFU 100ml-1 respectively. The mean differences of total coliforms, faecal coliform and E. coli counts between boreholes and hand-dug well was highly significant (p=0.001, p=0.014 and p=0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Bacteriological quality of the water from all hand-dug wells were very poor (above detectable limits) compared to the boreholes and thus must be treated before use.

Key words: Ejisu Juaben Municipality, urban communities, boreholes, hand-dug wells, total coliforms, faecal coliforms, E. coli.