WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR DRINKING AND SANITATION PURPOSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Water quality assessment research will go on despite the numerous research previously carried out because water quality is not constant and as exploration activities are being carried out around the world, the quality of water depreciates. The school environment represents an important setting and needs to be monitored as the students’ social habits and behaviors are learned at school. Every child has the right to be in a school that offers safe drinking water, healthy sanitation and hygiene education. There is therefore dire need to monitor drinking water quality provided by the school, for potability and sanitation regularly. A total of 40 drinking water samples were collected from 40 different secondary schools (27 day schools and 13 boarding schools), randomly selected within the Port Harcourt Metropolis, and analyzed using standard analytical techniques. To achieve the aim of this research work, an already delineated map of Port Harcourt Metropolis, into 13 zones, by the Survey Department was used. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters were determined to ascertain how safe the water is for direct consumption. Descriptive statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel 2013 Version was adopted to determine parameter concentration trends across the study area. Some of the results obtained are at variance with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for potable water. The pH values ranged from 3.78 – 7.72 with a mean value of 5.75. About 40% of the samples met WHO and SON minimum acceptable limit of 6.5 – 8.5. The reported pH range for 60% of the water samples showed that the drinking water in some secondary schools is acidic and well below the stipulated range of 6.5 – 8.5 for drinking purposes. The implication is that drinking water in most secondary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis is acidic. All other physico-chemical parameters fall within WHO and SON standard for drinking water except for Magnesium. 67% of the samples had elevated values that ranged from 0.27 – 3.38mg/l, above (up to 12 times) the allowable limit stipulated by WHO and SON. All heavy metals present in the water samples were within the WHO and SON limits, making the water virtually free from dangers to the human body posed by the presence of heavy metals in water. The water samples were also free from total coliform bacteria and faecal coliform bacteria. However, the results showed the presence of total heterotrophic bacteria to a harmful quantity (well above 10cfu/ml which is the allowable limit by SON) in 30% of the water samples. This suggests that drinking water in 30% of the schools is not fit for human consumption. The study recommends installation of treatment plants in every day and boarding secondary schools. This is to facilitate the treatment of drinking water, for acidity and bacteria, before consumption by the students. The acidity can also be treated by introducing baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in measured amounts into the water before drinking, while the bacteria can be removed by chlorination. Regular and periodic monitoring of the water quality in secondary schools, by designated authorities, is also urgently recommended.