Abstract:
This research focuses on the investigation of the existing main drinking water quality (dug well)
sources of in the rural area of Ankasha Woreda in the North western Ethiopia. In this study,
samples were collected from 9 dug wells both in the dry and wet seasons, where the people use it
for drinking purposes. The quality of the water samples were analyzed using physico-chemical
and bacteriological parameters based on standard procedures. Analyses of the mean of physico chemical parameters during the dry and wet seasons were: Turbidity (4.576 ± 0.26, 14.1467 ±
13.645 NTU), E.C (163.3 ± 142.317, 167.156 ± 126.348 μs/cm), TDS (123.486 ± 91.76, 76.471 ±
28.169 mg/L, pH (6.487 ± 0.537, 6.322 ± 0.515) , temperature (19.603 ± 0.475, 23.933 ± 0.461
0C , Alkalinity (25.4 ± 12.207, 30.66 ± 12.689 mg/L), total hardness (16.908 ± 16.826, 15.722 ±
8.327mg/L), nitrate (23.05 ± 10.992, 3.328 ± 0.996 mg/L), nitrite (1.566 ± 0.843, 2.502 ± 0.652
mg/L), sulfate (149.4 ± 67.417, 16.9 ± 4.479 mg/L), chlorine, (zero,0.06 ± 0.064 mg/L), iron
(1.77 ± 1.9, 0.566 ± 0.44 mg/L) and, manganese (0.029 ± 0.005, 0.406 ±0.256 mg/L),
respectively. All these physicochemical parameters were within the WHO and Ethiopian
standard limit. Analyses of the mean of bacteriological parameters in the dry and wet seasons
were: Fecal coliform (33.185 ± 0.263, 23.557 ± 16.187 CFU/100 mL), respectively. The total
coliforms found in the range of 3 to too numerous to count in the dry season and from 30 to too
numerous to count in the wet seasons. These values are beyond WHO and Ethiopian standard limit
and the consumers are at risk of consuming these dug well water sources. Therefore, the Water
Supply Office of Ankasha woreda in the rural area must do treatment on the dug well waters to
save consumers from water borne disease