ASSESSEMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BOREHOLE WATER IN OGBOKO IDEATO SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IMO STATE

ABSTRACT

The present research work deals with the study of microbiological quality of borehole water in Ogboko Ideato South L.G.A, Imo state. The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 5.7x104cfu/ml to 1.30x105cfu/ml, Fungi count was from 2.5x101cfu/ml to 3.6x101cfu/ml. Salmonella Shigella count was from 2.4x104cfu/ml to 6.0x104cfu/ml. the coliform count ranged from 1.19x103cfu/ml to 5.5x103cfu/ml. The bacteria genera isolated were Escherichia coli 4(12.1%), Klebsiella spp 5(15.1%), Proteus spp 5(15.1%), Shigella spp 6(18.1%), Enterobacter spp 2(6.2%), Salmonella spp 8(24.2%), and Citrobacter spp 3(9.2%) with Salmonella spp having the highest occurrence 8(24.2%), followed by Shigella spp 6(18.1%), while Enterobacter spp had the least occurrence 2(6.2%).  The fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp 4(40%), Rhizopus spp 3(30%), Mucor spp 2(20%) and Penicillium spp 1(10%) with Aspergillus spp having the highest occurrence 4(40%) while Penicillium spp had the least occurrence 1(10%).  The finding shows that the water samples did not meet WHO standard for drinking and domestic use and thus should be treated before drinking.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿            iii

Acknowledgements ﾿            iv

Table of Contents ﾿            v

List of Tables ﾿           viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE:  INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Background of the study ﾿ 3

1.2 ﾿ Aims and objectives of the study ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ﾿ 4

2.1 ﾿ Water ﾿ 4

2.1.1 ﾿ Sources of water ﾿ 4

2.1.2 ﾿ Surface water ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Ground water ﾿ 5

2.2.1 ﾿ Sources of ground water pollution ﾿ 5

2.2.2 ﾿ Survival of pathogens in groundwater ﾿ 6

2.2.3 ﾿ Transport in groundwater ﾿ 6

2.3 ﾿ Microbiological analysis of water ﾿ 7

2.3.1 ﾿ Indicator organisms ﾿ 7

2.3.2 ﾿ Coliforms ﾿ 8

2.3.3 ﾿ Echerichia coli ﾿ 8

2.4 ﾿ Methods of sanitary analysis of water ﾿ 9

2.4.1 ﾿ Pour plate technique ﾿ 9

2.4.2 ﾿ Membrane filtration method ﾿ 9

2.4.3 ﾿ Molecular techniques ﾿             10

2.4.4 ﾿ Membrane techniques ﾿ 10

2.4.5 ﾿ Advantages and Disadvantages of the membrane filtration method ﾿ 10 ﾿

2.5 ﾿ Contaminants in water ﾿ 11

2.5.1 ﾿ Microbial contaminants ﾿ 12

2.5.2 ﾿ Organic chemical contamination ﾿ 12

2.5.3 ﾿ Inorganic chemical contamination ﾿ 12

2.6 ﾿ Water treatment and purification ﾿ 13

2.6.1 ﾿ Sedimentation ﾿ 13

2.6.2 ﾿ Coagulation ﾿ 13

2.6.3 ﾿ Filtration ﾿ 14

2.6.4 ﾿ Chlorination ﾿ 14

2.6.5 ﾿ Ozonation ﾿ 14

2.6.6 ﾿ Aeration ﾿ 14

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS ﾿ 16

3.1 ﾿ Environment of the study ﾿ 16

3.2 ﾿ Sample collection ﾿ 16

3.3 ﾿ Microbiological methods ﾿ 16

3.3.1 ﾿ Media reparation ﾿ 16

3.4 ﾿ Determination of bacterial and fungal floral of the water sample ﾿ 17

3.4.1 ﾿ Isolation ﾿ 17

3.4.2 ﾿ Culture examination ﾿ 17

3.4.3 ﾿ Microscopic examination ﾿ 18

3.4.4 ﾿ Gram staining ﾿ 18

3.5 ﾿ Biochemical tests ﾿ 18

3.5.1 ﾿ Catalase test ﾿ 18

3.5.2 ﾿ Oxidase test ﾿ 19

3.5.3 ﾿ Coagulase test ﾿ 19

3.5.4 ﾿ Urease test ﾿ 19

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ﾿ 20

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ﾿ 25

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 25 ﾿

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 27

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 28

References ﾿

         Appendix