Water quality in a pipe distribution network: a case study of a communal water distribution network in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified the levels of pollution such as turbidity, chloride, silica, solids and E-coli in potable water at the point of treatment in Eleyele treatment plant and at various points in the consumer premises, some distance away from the treatment plant to ascertain the quality of water in the pipe distribution network within Ibadan city. Water samples were collected at eleven different locations and subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological tests and analyses. The results showed that the physical and chemical quality of Eleyele water works compete favourably with international standards such as those of the World Health Organization (WHO) but the bacteriological quality was suspect. Deterioration in water quality with respect to bacteriological quality in the distribution network could be as a result of pipe rust, and old age, leading to constant pipe leakages and burst wherein the E-coli contaminated water infiltrated into the pipe distribution network. In order to avoid E-coli contamination, the study recommends that maintenance of water pipe distribution networks should be planned, implemented and controlled at the same optimum level and operation as for the treatment facilities and the protection of the water source in order to meet international standards.

Microbiology and Chemical Quality of Drinking Water From Household-Level Distribution Network

“…Some journals have discussed some parameters related to the focus of the study. [1], [10], and [5] identified the levels of pollution with counting total coliform. [4], [5], [14], [13], [17], [15], [8], [9], [16] stated that biofilm is responsible for the deterioration of microbial water quality.…”

“…[4], [5], [14], [13], [17], [15], [8], [9], [16] stated that biofilm is responsible for the deterioration of microbial water quality. [1], [10], [5], [14], and [16] tested chemical parameters that could potentially trigger the growth of bacteria. [12] identified heavy metals in the samples of drinking water from various sources.…”

“…Studies have shown that drinking contaminated water, be it the water contaminated by viruses/ bacteria or poisonous chemical substances, may result in various healh disease such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, cancer and skin problems.Diarrhea is the most frequently-spread disease through water. It is estimated that there are 4.6 billion cases of diarrhea that cause 2.2 million of death annually [1].…”

“…The bacteria or other pollutants contaminated the drinking water thorugh cracks or holes on the pipes. However, high population of bacteria in the drinking-water distribution system is indicated by utility issue since the implication is non-hygenic water with strong taste and odor [1]. Pipes and storage system in the drinkingwater distribution system result in complex network as well as uncontrollable physical, chemical and biological reactions that leads to significantly different quality of water.…”

Appraisal of Groundwater Quality in Ado-Ekiti Metropolitan Area, Nigeria

“…Development in stages,to keep pace with rising demand, is usually more easily achieved for ground-water thanfor surface water. Water is essential for life, but it can and does transmit disease across countries in all continents -from the poorest to the wealthiest, the disease carrying capacity of river does not recognize colour, boundary or race [5].There are no estimates of the public health consequences of groundwater pollution as it involvesmethodological complexities and logistical problems. Nevertheless, levels of toxicity depend onthe type of pollutant.…”