ABSTRACT

The bacteriological quality of water outlets in different homes in Umuahia was investigated. Ten (10) random samples from different homes were used. The microbial count and the most probable number (MPN) were used to assess the water quality. The counts ranged from 0.9 x iO3to 8.5 x iO3on Nutrient agar plate, while EMB counts ranged from 2.5 x iO3to 7.7 x iO3, MAC counts ranged from 0.8 x iO3to 8.6 x iO3and SSA counts ranged from 2.0 x io to 6.7 x io for total heterotrophic count. The percentage occurrence from different water outlets from the findings of this study it revealed that E. coli 90% was the highest occurring bacteria from the water samples followed by Citrobacter 70%, while Salmonella spp and Shigella spp 60% had the lowest predominant occurrence. The results of physiochemical quality of the test waters showed variations between the water samples from the different study areas. The physical characteristics varied. The pH ranged from 7.00 to 7.85, Total suspended solid ranged from 80 to 125, total dissolved solid ranged from 15 to 32 while conductivity ranged from 148 to 165. The bacteriological analysis results of the water outlets samples were not acceptable since they were all found to yield moderate to heavy growth of bacteria, thereby making them unfit for human consumption. Therefore is recommended that good and proper personal and environmental sanitary practices must be maintained around water outlets source. Increasing the frequency of sampling and analysis is also needed to effectively monitor the quality of the water outlets.