Bacteriological And Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of Borehole Water From Three Selected Hospitals In Umuahia Metropolis

ABSTRACT

The bacteriological and physico-chemical characteristics were carried out for fifteen boreholes in three selected hospitals in Umuahia. The bacteriological analysis was carried out using the Most Probable Number Technique (Multiple-Tube Technique) for the detection of faecal coliform and subsequently organisms present in the samples of water were identified following the Standard Methods. The identified organisms include: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus   aureus and staphylococcus epidermidis. The Total Heterotrophic Plate Count (THLPC) gave a range of 1.5 x103-20.0 while the Total Conform Plate Count (TCPC) gave a range of 1 .0 x103-10.5 x103CFU mL-1.The presumptive faecal coliform ranged between 0-180 coliforms 100 mL-1 giving a mean of 18.73 coliforms per 100 mL. E. coli faecal coliforms were detected in 60% of the water samples. The aesthetic properties of the water samples were acceptable in comparison with local and international standards. These results showed that there is need for treatment of these water boreholes by the borehole proprietors and also by simple treatment methods such as boiling and agitation by the consumers.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii 

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv 

Acknowledgements ﾿ v 

Table of Contents ﾿ vi 

List of Tables ﾿ viii 

Abstract ﾿ ix 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1         Background to the study ﾿ 1

1.2         Problem statement and Justification ﾿ 2

1.3         Aims and Objectives ﾿ 2

1.3.1      Specific objectives ﾿ 2

1.4         Significance of the study ﾿ 3 

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ﾿ 4

2.1         Bacterial Water Quality ﾿ 4

2.2         Water Quality Changes ﾿ 4

2.3  ﾿ Water Quality Challenges  ﾿ 5

2.4    ﾿ Biological Indicators of Water Quality  ﾿ 6

2.4.1      Heterotrophic plate counts  ﾿ 6

2.4.2 ﾿ Thermotolerant coliforms  ﾿ 7

2.4.3  ﾿ Faecal Streptococci and Enterococci  ﾿ 8

2.4.4 ﾿ Pathogenic bacteria  ﾿ 9

2.4.4.1   Salmonella spp. ﾿ 9

2.4.4.2   Shigella spp.  ﾿ 10

2.4.5      Bacterial water quality risk assessment ﾿ 11

2.4.6      Physico-chemical indicators of water quality        ﾿ 11

2.4.6.1   Hydrogen ion potential – pH ﾿ 11

2.4.6.2   Turbidity - NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) ﾿ 12

2.4.6.3   Total organic carbon (TOC) ﾿ 12

2.4.7      Water pollution by organic matter ﾿ 13

2.5    ﾿     Common Water Treatment Methods ﾿ 14

2.5.1 ﾿     Solar disinfection ﾿ 14

2.5.2      Chemical water treatment methods ﾿ 14

2.5.2.1   Alum coagulation ﾿ 14

2.5.2.2   Chlorine treatment ﾿ 15

2.5.3      Treatment with plant extracts ﾿ 15

2.6 ﾿     Microbial Reduction by Coagulation-Flocculation ﾿ 16

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHSODS ﾿ 18

3.1        Sample collection ﾿ 18

3.2 ﾿    Media Preparation ﾿ 18

3.3         Physico-chemical Properties ﾿ 18

3.3.1      pH ﾿ 18

3.3.2      Temperature ﾿ 18

3.3.3      Electrical conductivity ﾿ 19

3.3.4      Dissolved oxygen ﾿ 19

3.3.5      Turbidity ﾿ 19

3.4         Most Probable Number (MPN) of Total and Faecal Coliforms per 100 ml ﾿ 19

3.4.1      Presumptive test ﾿ 20

3.4.2      Confirmatory test ﾿ 20

3.4.3      Completed test ﾿ 21

3.5         Faecal Coliforms (thermotolerant Escherichia coli) ﾿ 21

3.5.1      Confirmatory test ﾿ 21

3.5.2      Completed test    ﾿ 21

3.5.3      Heterotrophic plate counts ﾿ 22

3.6         Identification of Bacteria ﾿ 22

3.6.1  ﾿     Gram staining ﾿ 22

3.6.2      Oxidase test ﾿ 22

3.6.3      Motility test ﾿ 23

3.6.4      Indole test ﾿ 23

3.6.5      Citrate test ﾿ 23

3.7         Statistical Analysis ﾿ 23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ﾿ 24

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ﾿ 28

5.1 ﾿     Discussion ﾿ 28

5.2 ﾿     Conclusion ﾿ 29

5.3 ﾿     Recommendations  ﾿ 29

References ﾿ 30