Ground water is a major source of drinking water. In the Niger Delta, the ground water is unfit for human consumption due to high concentration of iron, coliforms and acidity. In an attempt to make the water potable, ...Ground water is a major source of drinking water. In the Niger Delta, the ground water is unfit for human consumption due to high concentration of iron, coliforms and acidity. In an attempt to make the water potable, groundwater samples were collected from domestic boreholes and analyzed for physicochemical and microbial parameters using standard analytical methods. The groundwater samples were collected after single and double trickling filter treatment. The treated water from the single and double trickling filter was similarly analyzed. Results show that after treatment, iron decreased from 5.23-9.96 mg/L in the raw water to 1.67-2.02 mg/L in the single treatment and 0.05-0.31 mg/L in the double treated water （P 〈 0.05）. Similarly, pH increased from 4.39-5.17 in the raw water to 5.31-5.87 in the single treatment and 6.09-6.90 in the double treatment （P 〈 0.05）. Coliforms decreased from 60-85 MPN/100 mL in the raw water to 3-10 MPN/100 mL in the single treatment and 0-2 MPN/100 mL in the double treatment （P 〈 0.05）. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that it is unsafe to drink untreated groundwater as currently practiced in the Niger Delta, but should be subjected to double trickling filter treatment and chlorination before consumption.展开更多
文摘Ground water is a major source of drinking water. In the Niger Delta, the ground water is unfit for human consumption due to high concentration of iron, coliforms and acidity. In an attempt to make the water potable, groundwater samples were collected from domestic boreholes and analyzed for physicochemical and microbial parameters using standard analytical methods. The groundwater samples were collected after single and double trickling filter treatment. The treated water from the single and double trickling filter was similarly analyzed. Results show that after treatment, iron decreased from 5.23-9.96 mg/L in the raw water to 1.67-2.02 mg/L in the single treatment and 0.05-0.31 mg/L in the double treated water （P 〈 0.05）. Similarly, pH increased from 4.39-5.17 in the raw water to 5.31-5.87 in the single treatment and 6.09-6.90 in the double treatment （P 〈 0.05）. Coliforms decreased from 60-85 MPN/100 mL in the raw water to 3-10 MPN/100 mL in the single treatment and 0-2 MPN/100 mL in the double treatment （P 〈 0.05）. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that it is unsafe to drink untreated groundwater as currently practiced in the Niger Delta, but should be subjected to double trickling filter treatment and chlorination before consumption.
