Abstract

Alabata is a community with no electricity and comprehensive topographic or administrative map. They also depend on a fuelled generating set to power the pumping machine for the UNICEF assisted borehole. The citizens often had to resort to an unsafe alternative water source for domestic purposes. In March 2006 an observational study trip through which data on sanitation, health and water sources were acquired was made to Alabata community. Coordinates of relevant facilities and water sampling points were taken and plotted in a Geographic Information System (using ArcView 3.2a GIS software). A base map for the study area was generated from satellite imagery (IKONOS). Sample points of water were overlaid on the base map that was produced from the satellite image. Water was collected from alternative water sources and analysed for bacteriological quality in the Microbiology laboratory. The bacteriological analysis of the different water sources with the exception of deep protected well with no recorded growth, showed that coliform count (> 1100 MPN/1000 ml), total Escherichia coli count (3-6 log cfu/ml), and total heterotrophic count (3-5 log cfu/ml). In all, the water samples generally exceeded the WHO and EPA standards of acceptable limit for drinking and domestic use.

Key words: Geographical information system (GIS), rural water, sustainability problem, South-western Nigeria.