RURAL WATER SUPPLIES FROM LATERITE RUNOFF1

ABSTRACT: Villagers living around Nsukka in Eastern Nigeria derive their water supplies during the dry season by subjecting the runoff from laterite soils to five months' sedimentation. This study found that by flocculatig the runoff with wood ash at a dose of 5 g/1, clear water with turbidity of less than 5 JTU, Fe of less than 1 mg/1, Coliform count of zero MPN and Plate count of less than 5 colonies was achieved after three days sedimentation.