Assessment of the quality of water from Hand-dug wells in Essikado community

The study evaluates the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of water from hand-dug wells in Essikado, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, against World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The pH levels of the wells ranged from 6.13 to 7.03, with all samples falling within the WHO acceptable range of 6.5-8.5. However, conductivity levels exceeded the WHO limit of 1000 µS/cm in all wells, with values reaching up to 1411 µS/cm. Color and alkalinity also varied, with some wells showing values below the reporting limits for color, but alkalinity levels were notably high in several samples. Iron concentrations were found to be below the WHO limit of 0.3 ppm in all wells, with values ranging from 0.051 to 0.159 ppm. Manganese levels were problematic in Well 2, reaching 0.348 ppm, exceeding the WHO guideline of 0.08 ppm. Bacteriological analysis revealed total coliform counts in five wells exceeded the WHO guideline of 0 counts per 100 mL, with Well 1 showing 9 counts and Well 3 showing 12 counts. Faecal coliform was absent in all samples, indicating some level of safety. While some parameters met WHO standards, significant concerns regarding conductivity and certain bacteriological counts highlight the need for improved water management practices in the region.