Domestic Water Accessibility, Physicochemical, Heavy Metal and Bacteriological Water Quality of Well Water in Enugu Metropolis

Evaluating the quality of domestic water is essential in ensuring public health and safety. This study assessed the availability of domestic water sources within Enugu metropolis and examined the physicochemical, heavy metal, and bacteriological quality of well water in comparison with water quality standards. Following standard procedures, well water samples were collected randomly, six from each of the three local government areas in Enugu metropolis, giving a total of eighteen samples. Physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity, and total dissolved solids) were determined using appropriate meters, heavy metals were assessed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and bacteriological quality and Vibrio presence were estimated using the standard plate count technique. Results indicate that many households in Enugu depended on untreated well water for their domestic needs. The pH of the water samples ranged from 5.90-7.10, temperature 25.5-26.8 °C, conductivity and total dissolved solids 35.50-436.00 mg/l, and 23.44-282.95 mg/l, respectively. Iron had the highest detection rate, and its values ranged between 1.09 and 2.58 mg/l, whereas arsenic was not detected at all. E. coli and total coliform counts were in the range of to , and to ; while Vibrio counts ranged, to cfu/ml. All the assessed parameters had values within the standard permissible limit, except for pH, iron and bacterial counts. Well water in Enugu metropolis is not suitable for domestic use without treatment that improves the bacteriological quality. We recommend point-of-use water disinfection techniques such as solar pasteurization and the use of chlorine.