ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF WATER STORAGE CONTAINERS ON HOUSEHOLD DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN UNWANA COMMUNITY IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

This project is aimed at assessing the water quality of three storage containers namely; clay pot, metal container and plastic container in Unwana Community. The containers were used to store drinking water for 21 days. Water samples were collected from the storage containers and analyzed on weekly bases. The water parameters analyzed were; pH, DO, BOD, Iron, Total coliform count and E-coli. The results of the analyses were; mean values of pH for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were; 17.47mg/l, 6.47mg/l and 7.28mg/l respectively. Means values of DO for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were 95.3mg/l, 53mg/, and 65.35mg/l respectively. Mean values of BOD for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were; 14.37mg/l, 24.97mg/l, and 25.23mg/l respectively. Mean values of E-coli for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were 3.0mg/l, 24.97mg/l and 5.67mg/l respectively. Mean values of Iron for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were 2.09mg/l, 1.91mg/l and 2.05mg/l respectively. Mean values of Total coliform count for clay pot, metal container and plastic container were; 5mg/l, 3.33mg/l and 10mg/l. the results obtained were compared with WHO and NAFDAC standards for drinking water. The study revealed that the values of most of the parameters were higher than WHO and NAFDAC standards, namely BOD, Total coliform count E-coli and Iron. But pH and DO were within the WHO and NAFDAC standards. The study further reviewed that E-coli was absent, that is the value was zero in all the water samples collected and analyzed from the metal container. The values of water samples from the clay pot and the plastic container showed the presence of E-coli. This reviewed that the water stored in the metal container was safe for drinking but slightly acidic. The pH values for samples of clay pot were slightly alkaline, but has the presence of E-coli. The plastic container had good pH values but contained the presence of E-coli. The study therefore, recommends the use of metal containers for the storage of drinking water.