Evaluation Of Some Drinking Water Qualities In Some Villages In Gezira State

Safe and potable water is the basic need for human. In Gezira State groundwater is the main source of domestic water. While most villages in Gezira State traditionally use pit latrines, septic tanks and injection wells have been introduced recently. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of latrine system in some villages in North Gezira State on some physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of groundwater. Water samples were collected from sixteen villages (Wadalmahna, Alkamlin Abdalab, Umdagarsey, Wadalmajedi, Abu usher, Altalbab, Alshawarab, Genib, Albataheen, Abufroa, Alsadaga, Alhassaheisa, Alsalama, Addaid Abu usher, Altakla Hamed, and Altakla Gobara) and analyzed for various physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. Physico-chemical parameter includes pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and some heavy metals. The microbiologic test includes a total count of coli form and fecal coli form E. coli, which is an indicator of fecal contamination of water. Standard laboratory methods for analysis were used. These parameters were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization (SSMO) to assess the suitability of groundwater for domestic purpose. The results show that most of the Physio-chemical parameters are within the acceptable ranges for WHO and SSMO, except water salinity in three villages (Alshawarab, 1935 μmhoscm-1; Albataheen, 1885 μmhoscm-1 and Abufroa, 1780 μmhoscm-1) is higher than the acceptable level (1500 μmhoscm-1). For microbiological tests, total coli form bacteria were detected in all water samples. E. coli was not detected in villages where traditional pit latrine is used. In village where septic tank and injection well is common E. coli was detected in all the samples. The study concludes that the groundwater used for drinking in North Gezira State is polluted, and there is contamination with E. coli in areas where traditional pit latrines are not the sanitation system. Keywords: drinking water, latrine system, Villages in Gezira State, Physical, chemical, groundwater, WHO, microbiological