Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: December | Volume: 6 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 324-330
Bacteriological Qualities of Drinking Water among Residents of Umuahia, Southeastern Nigeria
Okereke E.E.1, Amadi, C.O.A.2, Iro O.K.3, Obasi K.O.1, Azuamah Y.C.4, Braide W.5, Ede A.O.1, Igwe C.N.6, Amadi A.N.2
1Department of Environmental Health Science, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
2Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
3Department of Environmental Health Science, Abia state University Uturu, Nigeria
4Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
5Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
6Department of Public Health, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Okereke E.E
ABSTRACT
Adequate supply of clean water is a necessity for sustaining human life and for achieving sustainable development. This study was carried out in Umuahia, Southeastern Nigeria to investigate the sources of water supply of the residents as well as laboratory analysis of the bacteriological qualities of water. A well-structured questionnaire was also used to interview the subjects in order to determine the sources of water supply and its utilization. The water samples were collected from streams, running tap water, underground well water, reservoirs from rain water, and reservoirs from borehole water. The water samples were transported in sterile containers to the laboratory for bacteriological analysis. Microbial isolates were characterized based on cultural (colonial), microscopic and biochemical methods. Results showed that the major sources of drinking water in the communities include borehole (36.1%),open well (2.9%), bottled water (4.3%) and stream (10.4%). The mean total bacteria count for Nutrient Agar (NA) was 7.6 x 106cfu/ml; Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMBA), 7.8 x 104cfu/ml; Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA), 3.4 x 103cfu/ml; Blood Agar (BA), 5.3 x 105cfu/ml; MacConkey Agar (MCA), 1.6 x 107cfu/ml. Out of 230 samples collected, Enterococcus faecalis was isolated on 15% of the samples followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (9%). Others include Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus roseus at 8% each. The least bacterial isolates were the Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Aeromonas sp. at3% each. In conclusion, borehole water was the major source of water among the households in Umuahia and the major bacterial isolates in the water samples were Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus roseus. It was recommended that people should treat (boil) their water properly before drinking in order to ensure total destruction of bacteria organisms.
Key words: Water, Bacteria, Agar, Organism, Fecal
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