ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER OF BEDELE TOWN, SOUTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted at Bedele town to assess the physical quality of drinking water. The sample of water was collected from existing water supply of the town (River, Canal, Reservoir, pipe 1, and pipe 2). The objective of this study was to assess the physical quality of Surface water and its suitability for drinking purpose. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis System SAS (SAS, 2004) at 5% level of probability were used to compare variations in physical water quality under different sources. Relationships among the considered variables were also tested using Pearson's correlation with statistical significance set (p < 0.05). The studied physical drinking water quality parameters were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total Suspended Solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), temperature and turbidity. The study show that the values of pH, EC, TSS, TDS, TS, temperature, and turbidity ranged from: 5.66 to 6.7, 98.775 to 267.25μS/cm, 4 to 88mg/l, 991.75 to 1439mg/l, 1052 to 1449.25mg/l, 19.2 to 22.7oC, and 3.08 to 192NTU respectively. The mean physical water quality, parameters of pH at each site were less than the recommended value 6.5 where the temperature mean value recorded greater than standard value (15 oC). The mean value of EC, TDS and turbidity of water at the sites greater than the recommended standard value 250 μS/cm, 1000mg/l, and 1NTU respectively. From the result of physical parameters studied the qualities of drinking water supply of Bedele town were not within the range when compared with WHO guidelines. So, it is suggested that further treatment of the water is required to standardize its quality and suitability for drinking purpose.