Assessment of water quality parameters in Nyambai, Brikama, The Gambia

Abstract

This study took place at Nyambai, Brikama, The Gambia. It was with a view to ascertaining the cause of problems with well water at the  named location as complained by some inhabitants in an earlier study. Twenty well water samples were collected randomly, and nine water quality parameters were measured in each sample: nitrite, E-coli, conductivity, pH, hardness, manganese, cyanide, phosphate, and  total dissolved solids. E-coli counts exceeded World Health Organization, WHO recommendation. This was attributed to violation of  recommendations of distance between well water and toilet/dumpsite. All measured pH values were acidic; one sample site exceeded  recommended conductivity values. All other parameters were within the National Environment Agency, The Gambia, guidelines. Nearly all  wells in the study were open and had an average sanitary condition. Gambia Government needs to sensitize populace about the need  to close wells and respect regulation of distance between well and dumpsite/toilet when constructing homes. Further to this, is the need  to manage waste.