Assessment of Drinking Water Quality from Various Sources: Physicochemical and Bacteriological Perspectives in Chobi Town, West Showa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This research evaluates the safety and suitability of drinking water in Chobi Town, West Showa, Ethiopia. By selecting three strategic sampling sites, the study analyzed key physicochemical properties, heavy metals (Pb, Mn, Fe), and bacteriological indicators (TC and FC) using standard analytical methods, including ICP/OES for metal detection. The observed ranges for parameters such as Total Hardness, TDS, Chloride, pH, EC, and Sulphate generally aligned with safety standards; however, critical failures were noted. Specifically, temperature, turbidity, lead levels at site S1, and both total and fecal coliform counts exceeded WHO permissible limits. The presence of significant fecal contamination from human and animal sources across all sites (S1–S3) highlights an urgent need for government intervention and community awareness to address water quality risks in the region.

Keywords: Physicochemical Parameters, Bacteriological Parameters, Water Borne Diseases, Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.7176/CMR/18-1-01

Publication date: February 28^th 2026