**1. Introduction**

Water plays a vital role in the development of a stable community and society, since human being can exist for days without food, but absence of water for a few days may lead to death [1]. The essential nature of water to man's daily usage vis-àvis quantity and quality right from time immemorial has been on the increase [2]. Unfortunately, drinking water in developing countries especially in Nigeria in particular is susceptible to toxins as a result of effluents and pollutants [3, 4].

Water is a common natural chemical substance containing two atoms of Hydrogen and an atom of Oxygen. Its common usage refers to liquid form, though has other forms: solid water- ice and gaseous forms - water vapor and steam. Water is indispensable for life and socioeconomic development of any society. It is used in domestic activities (cooking, drinking, washing, bathing etc.), agricultural activities (e.g. irrigation, gardening), generation of power (hydroelectric power plants), running industries, recreational activities etc. It is very essential for human existence and sustenance of life. Water constitutes 60–70% of the total body weight. A man can live for several days without food but will only survive for few days without water. Therefore, water is indispensable for normal physiological function of plants and animals (Guyton, 1996 cited in [5]). In spite of its importance in sustenance of live and livelihood, it is the major cause of morbidity and mortality because of limitations in access and quality [5]. The basic physiological requirement for drinking water has been estimated at about 2 liters per capita per day which is just enough for survival [6]. World Health Organization (WHO) states that domestic water consumption of 30–35 liters per capita per day is the minimum requirement for maintaining good health. However, the amount of water required by individuals varies depending on climate, standard of living, habit of the people and even age and sex.

One factor that impinges more on the accessibility to enough quality drinking water is the distance of the source from house. This condition forces the individual most especially the women and children (especially girls) to transverse many kilometers to get safe drinking water (which deprives them from engaging in productive ventures or going to school like their male counterparts). In addition to this, in order to reduce the hardship in getting water, they may resort to reducing the quantity of water used in the house far below the recommended volume and also they may resort to fetching water from unimproved sources e.g. unprotected well, pond, stream etc. [7].

Water quality refers to the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water [8]. It is a measure of the conditions of water relative to the requirement of one or more biotic species, and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance can be assessed. The most common standards used to access water quality relate to health of ecosystems, safety of human contact and consumption [9].

Safe (quality) drinking water is that which does not present any significant health risk over a life time consumption, including any sensitivities that may occur in different stages of life [10]. It is water which is free from pathogenic microbes, hazardous chemicals/substance and esthetically acceptable (i.e. pleasing to sight, odorless and good taste). It is important that this type of water should not only be available, but also be available in enough quantity all the time, i.e. twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week ("24/7").

In assessing quality of drinking water, physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters must be considered. Although water from a source may not pose any
