Okezie Onyemaechi and Nwachukwu Ejikeme
Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the level of microbial contamination of the various water sources in Uzuakoli, Bende L.G.A. of Abia State. To determine the sanitary quality of the water sources under study and their suitability for human use and to determine the level of total and fecal coliform of the samples in the area. Methodology and results: The microbiological evaluation of drinking water supplies was investigated using standard methods. A total of 240 water samples were collected from five streams and fifteen boreholes and analyzed for a period of six months covering the dry and rainy seasons. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, coliform counts and faecal coliform counts were carried out on appropriate media. The coliform and faecal coliform count were determined using the most probable number (MPN) by the multiple tube fermentation technique. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts for the borehole samples during the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 5.0 × 104 cfu/ml to 1.9 × 103 cfu/ ml. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts for the stream samples during the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 7.1 × 106 cfu/ml to 3.1 × 104 cfu/ml. The coliform count for the borehole samples during the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 3 MPN/100 ml to 9 MPN/100 ml and 2 MPN/100 ml to 9 MPN/100 ml, while coliform count for the stream samples during the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 8 MPN/100 ml to 14 MPN/100 ml. The highest and lowest faecal coliform counts for the borehole samples during the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 5 MPN/100 ml to 2 MPN/100 ml. The faecal coliform count for the stream samples for the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 9 MPN/100 ml and 2 MPN/100 ml. Seven (7) species of bacteria species were isolated. They were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp, Streptococcus sp, Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli. The result shows a significant difference at (P≤0.05) for the bacterial isolates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study revealed poor bacteriological quality for the borehole and stream water sources and should be treated before use to prevent health hazards.
