DISTANCE – FROM –LEACH PIT AND QUALITY OF SHALLOW GROUNDWATER IN SELECTED WARDS OF ILORIN SOUTH LGA, ILORIN, NIGERIA

Shallow wells remain a major source of water in cities. This study, examined the distance of
wells to leach pit and it also compared the level of compliance of these distances to the best practices.
Water samples were collected and subjected to laboratory analysis to ascertain the quantum of
contamination. A total of 50 water samples were collected in two tranches of 25 samples. Each of the
well water was randomly sampled within 5 geographical locations in the 11 wards of the study area.
Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), regression analysis and factor analysis were deployed in this
study. Results indicated that bacteriological parameters of total coliform and bacteria counts exceeded
the maximum level of drinking water quality and were generally affected by distances to leach pit as
they increase towards the control sites. There was no fecal coliform growth except in well 1 in Okaka
ward. This implies that while the fecal coliform level was generally satisfactory, both the total coliform
and bacteria counts were unsatisfactory. In addition, there was no correlation (r>0) between the depth
of the water source and quality of water. In Akanbi ward, the total viable and coliform counts the values
increased or decreased irrespective of distance. Nitrate ion was of high concentration throughout the
samples. The study showed that there is strong correlation between bacteriological properties of water
and distances which decreases in concentration with distance. Other physiochemical properties
indicated no correlations with distance to leach pits. The study recommended the adoption of a
scientific distance between shallow wells and soak-away pits in the study area.