Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia

This study investigated the quality of groundwater with respect to septic systems in Kitwe West township located in the western part of Zambia's Kitwe district. The study area was selected because most households in the township use boreholes and septic systems as sources of drinking water and...

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Autores principales:	Stephen Siwila, Choolwe Buumba
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	IWA Publishing 2021
Materias:	borehole water pollution distance to dump sites drinking water sources septic tanks water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/81f5f2b5123e439e8289e9c3ce44bf27
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:81f5f2b5123e439e8289e9c3ce44bf272021-12-02T07:41:17ZInvestigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia0273-12231996-973210.2166/wst.2021.448https://doaj.org/article/81f5f2b5123e439e8289e9c3ce44bf272021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttp://wst.iwaponline.com/content/84/10-11/3277https://doaj.org/toc/0273-1223https://doaj.org/toc/1996-9732This study investigated the quality of groundwater with respect to septic systems in Kitwe West township located in the western part of Zambia's Kitwe district. The study area was selected because most households in the township use boreholes and septic systems as sources of drinking water and wastewater disposal facilities respectively. The study showed the presence of total coliforms in 90% of the boreholes while only 30% of the boreholes were contaminated with fecal coliforms rendering the water unsafe for drinking. The study revealed that there was no distinct relationship between distance from borehole to septic tank system and the quality of borehole water. It was however observed that for boreholes within a 15 m proximity to individual home-owned dump sites the level of fecal contamination increased as the distance from the boreholes to the dump sites decreased. The study has vividly shown that the location of boreholes and septic tank systems in the same plot of land exacerbated by the presence of solid waste dump sites in a residential plot that depends on groundwater is not advisable. This is because the safety of groundwater cannot be guaranteed even if technical specifications are followed for boreholes and septic tank systems. HIGHLIGHTS The study area was selected because most households in the township use boreholes and septic systems as sources of drinking water and wastewater disposal facilities respectively.; Very few such studies have been done in developing countries and particularly in Zambia.; The study has vividly shown that the location of boreholes and septic tank systems in the same plot of land does not ensure water safety and is incorrect. This may however be dependent on the geology of the area.;Stephen SiwilaChoolwe BuumbaIWA Publishingarticleborehole water pollutiondistance to dump sitesdrinking water sourcesseptic tankswater qualityEnvironmental technology. Sanitary engineeringTD1-1066ENWater Science and Technology, Vol 84, Iss 10-11, Pp 3277-3285 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	borehole water pollution distance to dump sites drinking water sources septic tanks water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066
spellingShingle	borehole water pollution distance to dump sites drinking water sources septic tanks water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Stephen Siwila Choolwe Buumba Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
description	This study investigated the quality of groundwater with respect to septic systems in Kitwe West township located in the western part of Zambia's Kitwe district. The study area was selected because most households in the township use boreholes and septic systems as sources of drinking water and wastewater disposal facilities respectively. The study showed the presence of total coliforms in 90% of the boreholes while only 30% of the boreholes were contaminated with fecal coliforms rendering the water unsafe for drinking. The study revealed that there was no distinct relationship between distance from borehole to septic tank system and the quality of borehole water. It was however observed that for boreholes within a 15 m proximity to individual home-owned dump sites the level of fecal contamination increased as the distance from the boreholes to the dump sites decreased. The study has vividly shown that the location of boreholes and septic tank systems in the same plot of land exacerbated by the presence of solid waste dump sites in a residential plot that depends on groundwater is not advisable. This is because the safety of groundwater cannot be guaranteed even if technical specifications are followed for boreholes and septic tank systems. HIGHLIGHTS The study area was selected because most households in the township use boreholes and septic systems as sources of drinking water and wastewater disposal facilities respectively.; Very few such studies have been done in developing countries and particularly in Zambia.; The study has vividly shown that the location of boreholes and septic tank systems in the same plot of land does not ensure water safety and is incorrect. This may however be dependent on the geology of the area.;
format	article
author	Stephen Siwila Choolwe Buumba
author_facet	Stephen Siwila Choolwe Buumba
author_sort	Stephen Siwila
title	Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
title_short	Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
title_full	Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
title_fullStr	Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
title_full_unstemmed	Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia
title_sort	investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in kitwe west township, kitwe, zambia
publisher	IWA Publishing
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/81f5f2b5123e439e8289e9c3ce44bf27
work_keys_str_mv	AT stephensiwila investigationofgroundwatercontaminationinrelationtosepticsystemsinkitwewesttownshipkitwezambia AT choolwebuumba investigationofgroundwatercontaminationinrelationtosepticsystemsinkitwewesttownshipkitwezambia
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Investigation of groundwater contamination in relation to septic systems in Kitwe West Township, Kitwe, Zambia

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