ABSTRACT

The Microbiological and Physico-chemical analysis of the borehole waters used by staff, students and pupils in twenty (20) private schools in Umuahia Abia State were carried out. using the most probable Number Technique (MPN) was used for the enumerationin the analysis. The five species of bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis were isolated together with two (2) fungal species, Aspergillums Niger and Mucor racehorses. The total coliform plate count (TCPC) gave a range of 2.40x104-8.61x103cfu/ml. The total Heterotrophic plate count (THPC) gave a range of 3.82x104- 9.22x103. The presumptive faecal coliform ranged between 0-11 coliform per 100m1. The faecal coliform was detected in 40.0% of the water samples. The physicochemical parameters were within acceptable limit except for Nitrate whose range fell between 10-53mg/l above WHO guidelines of 10N/L. The results were compared with World Health Organization (WHO), National Agency for food and drug Administration and control (NAFDAC). Also the sensitivity of the bacteria isolates were performed which shows that some bacteria isolate were sensitive to the different antibiotic disc while some were resistant with their degrees of inhibitions. The findings shows that all the borehole water samples from the twenty private schools met with WHO standards for drinking water except for water samples from PCS, AIS, DM and RA that did not meet with the WHO standards for drinking water. The location and topography of the area should be considered before sinking borehole water Thus, there is need to necessitate the frequent treatment, analysis and servicing of these boreholes water sources for them to be safe for drinking.