Bacteriological And Physicochemical Examination Of Borehole Water In Amawom Ikwuano L. G. A, Abia State

ABSTRACT

This research work is aimed at assessing the quality of ground water (borehole) in Amawom, Ikwuano L.G.A Abia State Nigeria. An investigative study was carried out to determine the bacteriological and physicochemical qualities of borehole water samples in Amawom. Ten water samples were collected randomly from ten selected borehole with Amawom village. In the study, total heterotrophic bacteria and total coliforms were determined using pour plate method and multiple tube/most probable number (MPN) methods respectively. Identifications of isolates were done using standards methods based on cultural, morphological characteristics and a battery of biochemical tests. The identified organisms (and their percentage occurrence) include: Klebsiella spp. (100%), Enterobacter spp. (90%), Vibrio cholera (60%), S. aureus (80%), Salmonella spp. (60%), and E. coli (70%). In this study, the total heterotrophic bacteria count of the samples analyzed ranged from 2.5 x 103 to 8.1 x 103 CFU/ml. The results obtained from this study showed that faecal coliform bacteria were present in thirty percent (30%) of the samples analyzed while all the samples contained coliform bacteria with counts ranging from 0 to 2.0 x 103 CFU/ml for faecal coliform and 7 to 49 MPN/100ml for total coliforms. The physicochemical analysis was also carried out on selected (representative) borehole samples. The parameters determined and their ranges include: pH (6.84-7.03), temperature (all 28.2 0C), conductivity (33.2-54.4 uS/cm), turbidity (all 0.1 NTU), TDS (14-51.2 mg/L), TSS (1-2 mg/L), chloride (2-6 mg/L), DO (4-6 mg/L), BOD (0.4-0.8 mg/L), COD (0.9-1.3 mg/L), nitrate (5.3-7.5 mg/L), phosphate (0.02-0.15 mg/L), sulphate (1-1.4 mg/L) and total iron (0.22-0.7 mg/L). Lead and mineral oil were less than detectable limit. The investigation in this study suggested that not all boreholes waters are safe for consumption and were of poor bacteriological qualities which are indication of health risk to the inhabitants of the geographical location (Amawom) which may be as a result of improper construction/drilling of the boreholes or contamination of the storage tanks. There is need for the treatment of water from these boreholes before use in order to reduce the risk of infection. Physicochemically, the borehole samples were considered potable.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Title page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iv 

Table of contents ﾿ v

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿ Background of the Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Need and Objectives of the Study ﾿ 5

1.3 ﾿ Justification ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 ﾿ Water ﾿ 7

2.2 ﾿ Sources of Water ﾿ 7

2.2.1 ﾿ Groundwater ﾿ 8

2.2.2 ﾿ Surface Water ﾿ 9

2.2.3 ﾿ Water Obtained from Desalination ﾿ 9

2.3 ﾿ Borehole ﾿ 9

2.3.1 ﾿ Contaminants Transport in Groundwater (Borehole Water) ﾿ 10

2.4 ﾿ Water Quality and Health ﾿ 10

2.5 ﾿ Microbial Hazards Associated with Drinking-Water ﾿ 11

2.5.1 ﾿ Waterborne Infections ﾿ 12

2.5.2 ﾿ Persistence and Growth in Water ﾿ 14

2.6 ﾿ Occurrence of Pathogens in Drinking-Water ﾿ 14

2.6.1 ﾿ Bacterial Pathogens ﾿ 15

2.6.1.1 Vibrio ﾿ 15

2.6.1.2 Staphylococcus aureus ﾿ 17

2.6.1.3 ﾿ Shigella ﾿ 17

2.6.1.4 Salmonella ﾿ 18

2.6.1.5 Pseudomonas aeruginosa ﾿ 19

2.6.1.6 Legionella ﾿ 20

2.6.1.7 ﾿ Klebsiella ﾿ 21

2.6.1.8 Helicobacter pylori ﾿ 22

2.6.1.9 Escherichia coli pathogenic strains ﾿ 23

2.6.1.10 Campylobacter ﾿ 24

2.7 ﾿ Indicator and index Organisms ﾿ 26

2.7.1 Total Coliform Bacteria ﾿ 27

2.7.2 Escherichia coli and Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria ﾿ 28

2.7.3 Heterotrophic Plate Counts ﾿ 30

2.7.4 Intestinal Enterococci ﾿ 30

2.7.5 Clostridium perfringens ﾿ 31

2.7.6 Other Indicator Organisms ﾿ 32

2.8 ﾿ Physicochemical Water Quality Parameters ﾿ 32

2.8.1 ﾿ Physical parameters ﾿ 32

2.8.2 ﾿ Chemical parameters ﾿ 34

2.9 ﾿ Water Treatment and Purification ﾿ 37

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 ﾿ Study area ﾿ 39

3.2 ﾿ Collection of Samples ﾿ 39

3.3 ﾿ Preparation of Culture Media and Diluent ﾿ 40

3.4     Bacteriological Quality Determination of the Borehole Water Samples ﾿ 41

3.4.1   Total Bacterial Count ﾿ 41

3.4.2     Total Coliform Count ﾿ 41

3.4.2.1 Presumptive test ﾿ 42

3.4.2.2Confirmed Test ﾿ 42

3.4.2.3 Completed Test ﾿ 43

3.4.3 Faecal Coliform Count ﾿ 43

3.4.4 Isolation of Purified Culture and Enumeration of Bacterial Isolate ﾿ s ﾿ 43

3.4.5   Characterization of Bacterial Isolates ﾿ 43

3.4.5.1     Morphological Growth and Identification of Isolates on Media ﾿ 43

3.4.5.2 Biochemical Tests for Identification of Bacteria Isolates ﾿ 44

3.5 Determination of Physico-Chemical Properties of the Water Samples ﾿ 46

3.5.1 pH and Temperature ﾿ 47

3.5.2 Total Hardness ﾿ 47

3.5.3 Alkalinity ﾿ 47

3.5.4 Electrical Conductivity (Instrumental Method) ﾿ 47

3.5.5 Total Solids (TS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Suspended Solids (SS) ﾿ 47

3.5.6 Turbidity ﾿ 48

3.5.7 Chloride ﾿ 48

3.5.8 Iron ﾿ 49

3.5.9 Colour, Odour and Taste ﾿ 49

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ﾿ 50

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION  

5.1     Discussion ﾿ 56

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 58

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 59

REFERENCES ﾿ 61 ﾿