Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana

Assessment was done on the microbiological quality of water in hand-dug wells in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 256 water samples were taken from eight wells and examined for faecal coliforms, enterococci and helminths. High contamination levels were recorded in the wells, more so in...

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Autores principales: Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi, Keraita, Bernard N., Konradsen, Flemming, Agbenowu, E.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40406
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author Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi
Keraita, Bernard N.
Konradsen, Flemming
Agbenowu, E.
author_browse Agbenowu, E.
Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi
Keraita, Bernard N.
Konradsen, Flemming
author_facet Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi
Keraita, Bernard N.
Konradsen, Flemming
Agbenowu, E.
author_sort Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Assessment was done on the microbiological quality of water in hand-dug wells in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 256 water samples were taken from eight wells and examined for faecal coliforms, enterococci and helminths. High contamination levels were recorded in the wells, more so in the wet season, with faecal coliforms levels between 6.44 and 10.19 log units and faecal enterococci between 4.23 and 4.85 CFU per 100 ml. Influence on protection and lining of wells on water quality was not pronounced but mechanization reduced contamination significantly by about 3 log units. This study shows a stronger influence of poor sanitation and improper placement of wells on water quality compared to improvements made from lining and protection of wells. In the race to increase access to drinking water in poor urban settlements, quality of groundwater could be a major barrier, if provision of drinking water is not matched with improvements in sanitation and urban planning.
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publishDate 2011
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spelling CGSpace404062025-06-17T08:23:47Z Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi Keraita, Bernard N. Konradsen, Flemming Agbenowu, E. wells groundwater water quality faecal coliforms urban poor drinking water sanitation urban planning Assessment was done on the microbiological quality of water in hand-dug wells in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 256 water samples were taken from eight wells and examined for faecal coliforms, enterococci and helminths. High contamination levels were recorded in the wells, more so in the wet season, with faecal coliforms levels between 6.44 and 10.19 log units and faecal enterococci between 4.23 and 4.85 CFU per 100 ml. Influence on protection and lining of wells on water quality was not pronounced but mechanization reduced contamination significantly by about 3 log units. This study shows a stronger influence of poor sanitation and improper placement of wells on water quality compared to improvements made from lining and protection of wells. In the race to increase access to drinking water in poor urban settlements, quality of groundwater could be a major barrier, if provision of drinking water is not matched with improvements in sanitation and urban planning. 2011-02 2014-06-13T14:47:36Z 2014-06-13T14:47:36Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40406 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Akple, M.; Keraita, Bernard; Konradsen, F.; Agbenowu, E. 2011. Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana. Urban Water Journal, 8(1):57-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2010.528436
spellingShingle wells
groundwater
water quality
faecal coliforms
urban poor
drinking water
sanitation
urban planning
Akple, Maxwell Selase Kwasi
Keraita, Bernard N.
Konradsen, Flemming
Agbenowu, E.
Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title_full Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title_fullStr Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title_short Microbiological quality of water from hand-dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana
title_sort microbiological quality of water from hand dug wells used for domestic purposes in urban communities in kumasi ghana
topic wells
groundwater
water quality
faecal coliforms
urban poor
drinking water
sanitation
urban planning
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40406
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AT konradsenflemming microbiologicalqualityofwaterfromhanddugwellsusedfordomesticpurposesinurbancommunitiesinkumasighana
AT agbenowue microbiologicalqualityofwaterfromhanddugwellsusedfordomesticpurposesinurbancommunitiesinkumasighana