Assessing Physico-Chemical And Microbiological Groundwater Quality Of Kitsiyatota Catchment Area In Bindura, Zimbabwe

Author

Museka Ashwell

Title

Assessing Physico-Chemical And Microbiological Groundwater Quality Of Kitsiyatota Catchment Area In Bindura, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the physico-chemical and microbiological ground water quality within Kitsiyatota catchment area in Bindura, by comparing the water parameters with the WHO guideline standards. The study period was from February 2024 to April 2024.Data were collected using a strategic sampling location and the water samples were collected from five sampling points including tap-water, boreholes, and wells in different locations . A total of 5 sampling points were collected and each point replicated three times after every 10 minutes to obtain accurate data and each sampling site was analyzed for 11 parameters. Test kits were calibrated using WHO guidelines and the water collection and water testing was done according to the recommended procedures. The data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 of 2011.T-test was used for statistical differences within the tested parameters of the sampling points. The results of physicochemical and microbiological analyses were compared with the WHO standards for drinking water and the P-value ˂0.05 was considered to show the significant differences of the mean. The coefficient of variation (% CV) was used for the determination of the significances of difference within the water samples at 95% confidence interval. The general findings clearly shows that the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the water analyzed from the Kitsiyatota catchment area in Bindura, exceed the recommended standards for drinking water quality. The study further recommends the drilling of recommended depths of boreholes so that the water cannot be easily contaminated within the Kitsiyatota catchment area. The researcher suggests using chlorine and ultraviolet light treatment to remove or reduce the concentration of E. coli in the water and the use of water softeners, such as tetra-sodium diphosphate and calcium hydroxide.

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Physico-Chemical

Microbiological Groundwater

Kitsiyatota Catchment Area

Bindura, Zimbabwe

Supervisor

Mr. Kundhlande