A Water Quality Index Approach in Estimating Water Quality of Shallow Wells Situated Near Pollution Sources in a Community

Abstract BACKGROUND Most developing countries rely on water sources that are usually not protected making them unsafe for drinking. These sources require regular assessment to evaluate their quality and ensure they meet standards before use. This research therefore assessed the physio-chemical and microbiological properties of selected shallow wells situated near pollution sources in Omu-Aran with an inclusive water quality index (WQI) framework. METHODS Fifty groundwater samples were collected from five various locations namely: Aperan, Egbe garage, Latinwo, Mode and Igangu. Standard methods were used to determine the constituents of the water while descriptive statistics and two sample t test were used to analyze the data. RESULT The mean values for turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, chloride and fluoride all fall within the nigerian Standard Drinking Water Quality guideline values while pH, nitrite, dissolved oxygen and T. coliform exceed the standard limit. Coliform and nitrite contamination are often linked with sewage pollution arising from anthropogenic sources. The parameters of water in Omu-Aran were generally higher during the rainy season than the dry season. However, there was no significant difference for these parameters across periods except for pH, Total hardness and fluoride. WQI classified water samples as Excellent, Good, Poor and Unsuitable for drinking. CONCLUSION Users should be encouraged to carry out disinfection and ensure their water sources are protected and not left exposed. The WQI makes it easy for policy makers to evaluate contamination and make decisions based on recommendation