Pilot Risk Assessment of Water Sources of Selected Communities from Four Local Government Areas of Bida, Gbako, Katcha, and Lavun that Experienced 2018 Cholera Outbreak in Niger State, Nigeria

Recurrent cholera outbreak in Nigeria signifies a problem of water and sanitation. However, there is so much implication of open defecation and surface water pollution with little emphasis on the ground water which are predominantly sources of drinking water. The aim of this study was to carry out a pilot risk assessment of water sources in selected communities from four local government areas of Bida, Gbako, Katcha, and Lavun that experienced 2018 cholera outbreak in Niger State, Nigeria. The risk assessment was based on the guidelines for Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On-Site Sanitation (ARGOSS). Our result showed that about 63% of the ground water sources in the study areas are of significant risk. The results also showed that the type of ground water sources did not determine the outcome of the risk assessment (Pearson’s Chi-squared test, p > 0.05). However, the subsoil type of the sources affects or is associated with the outcome of the risk assessment (Pearson’s Chi-squared test, p < 0.05). Generally, the Vibrio species counts of the water sources are in order of rivers/streams>> open wells>boreholes. The Vibrio species counts did not show any seasonal variation (t. test, p > 0.05). Also, there was no combined effect of the type of water sources and risk determination outcome on the Vibrio species counts (ANOVA, p > 0.05). This study can serve as basis for enforcement of well/borehole-pit latrine/septic tank distance limit in Nigeria.