Survey of Groundwater Quality in Hand-Dug Wells Serving Rural Communities in Taraba State

Groundwater from hand-dug wells serves as the primary potable water source for rural communities in Taraba State, North East Nigeria, where piped water supply infrastructure is limited or absent. This study surveys the quality of groundwater in hand-dug wells serving five rural communities in Wukari, Jalingo, and Bali Local Government Areas of Taraba State. Water samples were collected from 30 wells across the five communities and tested for physicochemical and microbiological parameters including pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, iron, hardness, total coliform, and faecal coliform, following standard APHA methods. Results are assessed against WHO 2022 guidelines and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. Results indicate that pH values range from 5.8 to 7.6, with 40 percent of samples below the recommended minimum of 6.5. Total coliform was detected in 76 percent of samples and faecal coliform in 54 percent, indicating widespread microbiological contamination. Iron concentrations exceed 0.3 mg/L in 33 percent of samples. Nitrate levels are within acceptable limits in all samples. Turbidity exceeds 4 NTU in 47 percent of dry-season samples, increasing to 63 percent during the rainy season. The study concludes that groundwater in the surveyed communities poses a significant public health risk and recommends household-level chlorination programmes, well construction improvement guidance, and a state-level rural water quality monitoring system for Taraba State.

Keywords: groundwater quality, hand-dug wells, rural water supply, Taraba State, North East Nigeria