BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF BOREHOLE WATER FROM OVERHEAD STORAGE TANKS AT SELECTED LOCATIONS IN OWERRI METROPOLIS
C. M. EZENWA *
Department of Microbiology, Imo State University, P.M.B 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
B. E. B. NWOKE
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University, P.M.B 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
E. EMUKAH
Primary Health Care Development Agency, Imo State, Nigeria.
C. C. OBASI
Department of Public Health, Imo State University, P.M.B. 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
M. A. NWAGBARAOCHA
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Imo State University, P.M.B. 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
V. U. OJIAKO
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University, P.M.B 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
A. O. SHEBBS
Department of Public Health, Imo State University, P.M.B. 2000, Owerri, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Study was to determine the bacteriological status of borehole water in overhead tanks at various parts of Owerri municipality. Water samples were taken from three overhead tanks in each of the 10 locations, totaling 30 samples and investigated for bacteriological characteristics. The viable bacterial, total coliform and feacal coliform counts were determined by standard plate count method, multiple tube fermentation and the use of different media respectively. The viable bacterial count ranged from 1.8 x 101 to 6.5 x 103 cfumL-1.. Total coliform and faecal coliform ranged from 0.8 to 5.2 cfu.Ml-1 and 1.3 to 8.1 cfumL-1, respectively. A total of five bacterial organisms were isolated from the stored borehole water collected, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp, Salmonella Typhii and Shigella spp. The presence of these pathogenic organisms is of individual risk and public health significance.
Keywords: Bacteriological, borehole, water, storage, tank.