Assessment of drinking water quality for residents of Kuria west in Migori county.

Abstract

The quality of drinking water is determined by measuring its physico-chemical, chemical, heavy metals and bacteriological characteristics. Quality drinking water is one which none of the above parameters can result to any significant health risk to its users upon consumption. A study was conducted to determine the sources and quality of drinking water in Isibania settlement, Nyamaharaga sub location of Kuria West Sub- County in Migori County. The following parameters were investigated; physico-chemical parameters comprising of pH, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity and total hardness, chemical; nitrate, nitrite, chloride, fluoride, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, heavy metals; iron, manganese, cadmium, zinc, chromium, lead and bacteriological; total coliform and fecal coliform. Sixty closed ended questionnaires were administered to residents of Isibania who were selected through stratified random sampling to establish their demographic characteristics and sources of drinking water. A total of 27 samples were collected through stratified and purposive random sampling from water sources that included wells, streams and rainwater harvest. The questionnaires were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists while physico-chemical parameters were analyzed using portable electrochemical meters that had been standardized in the laboratory. Single Beam UV Spectrophotometric method was used for the analysis of nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, chloride, sulphate and fluoride. Flame Atomization Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic method was used to analyze for sodium and magnesium. Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic method was used to analyze for cadmium, zinc, chromium, lead, iron and manganese. Bacteriological quality was determined by measuring the most probable number of colonies for total coliform and fecal coliform after incubation. It was established that 98% of the respondents depended on wells, streams and rainwater harvest as sources of their drinking water. It was observed that; 14.8 % of the water samples had an average pH value of 5.3, 26% nitrites of 0.008 mg/L, 15% nitrates of 104.65 mg/L, 3% chromium of 0.08 mg/L, 7% manganese of 0.7 mg/L, 7% lead of 0.04 mg/L, 78% total coliform of 136 MPN and that 56% had fecal coliform of 120 MPN. It was further established that water from 82% of the sources studied was unsuitable for human consumption. This implies that majority of Kuria West residents consume poor quality water according to standards guidelines.