MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF BOREHOLE WATER AT AGBAMA HOUSING ESTATE, UMUAHIA

ABSTRACT

Microbiological and physicochemical quality of borehole water from Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia was studied. A total of fifty water samples were collected and analyzed comprising ten samples from each of the five areas, A-E. The microflora of the borehole water showed the presence of seven specie of bacteria with varying levels of occurrence including Escherichia coli (80%),Staphylococcus aureus (42%), Pseudomonasspp. (26%), Shigella flexneri(10%), Salmonella typhi (6.0%), Serratia marsecens (4.0%)and Proteus mirabilis(10%), while the fungi flora recorded different species including Apsergillus niger (22%), Aspergillusfumigatus (6.0%),Mucoralternaria (40%) andRhodotorula spp. (4.0%). The total heterotrophic bacteria count was between 5.03x104cfu/ml to 6.09x104cfu/ml with a mean value 2.5.53x104cfu/ml while the total Staphylococcal count had a mean value of 3.83x104cfu/ml with a range of 3.07x104cfu/ml to 4.67x104cfu/l. The mean fungi population was between 3.26x102cfu/ml to3.94x102cfu/ml with a mean value 3.61x102cfu/ml while the coliform count was in the range of 7.0 cells/100ml to 9.5cells/100ml and a mean value of 8.0cols/100ml. Physicochemical analysis showed there were variations in the physicochemical properties of the water as the pH varied from 6.40 to 6.76, turbidity 0.86 to 1.06 NTU and Total Solids 17.87mg/ml to 22.88mg/ml. The total hardness was in the range of 43.33mg/ml to 51.89mg/ml, calcium and magnesium contents ranged from 27.12mg/ml to 55.56mg/ml and 3.17mg/ml to 4.99mg/ml respectively. It was observed that there is need for improvement in the personal and environmental hygiene of dwellers within the borehole sites to reduce external influence on the quality of the water. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgments ﾿ iv

Table of contents ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Aim and Objectives of the Study ﾿ 5

1.1.1 ﾿ Aim ﾿ 5

1.1.2 ﾿ Objectives of the Study ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review ﾿ 6

2.1 ﾿ Pollution ﾿ 6

2.1.1 ﾿ Forms of Pollution ﾿ 6

2.2 ﾿ Water ﾿ 9

2.2.1 ﾿ Chemical and Physical Properties of Water ﾿ 10

2.2.2 ﾿ Uses of Water ﾿ 12

2.3 ﾿ Water Pollution ﾿ 13

2.3.1 ﾿ Groundwater Pollution ﾿ 14

2.3.2 ﾿ Causes of Water Pollution ﾿ 15

2.3.3 ﾿ Effects of Water Pollution ﾿ 16

2.3.4 ﾿ Remedies of Water Pollution ﾿ 17

2.4 ﾿ Water Quality ﾿ 18

2.4.1 ﾿ Bacteriological Water Quality ﾿ 19

2.4.2 ﾿ Indicator Organisms of Water Quality ﾿ 20

2.4.2.1 ﾿ Coliform Organisms (Total Coliform) as Indicator of Water Quality ﾿ 21

2.4.2.2 ﾿ Thermo-tolerant (Faecal) Coliform Bacteria as Indicator of Water Quality ﾿ 21

2.5 ﾿ Microbiological Parameters for Determination of Water Quality ﾿ 22

2.5.1 ﾿ Heterotrophic Plate Count ﾿ 22

2.5.2 ﾿ Total Coliform Plate Count ﾿ 22

2.5.3 ﾿ Total Faecal Coliform Count ﾿ 23

2.6 ﾿ Use of Bacteria as Indicators of Pathogenic Organisms in Water ﾿ 23

2.7 ﾿ Water Borne Pathogens and Diseases ﾿ 24

2.8 ﾿ Physicochemical Water Quality ﾿ 26

2.8.1 ﾿ Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ﾿ 26

2.8.2 ﾿ pH ﾿ 27

2.8.3 ﾿ Turbidity ﾿ 28

2.8.4 ﾿ Temperature ﾿ 29

2.9 ﾿ Microbiological Water Analysis ﾿ 30

2.9.1 ﾿ Methods of Microbiological Water Analysis ﾿ 30

2.9.1.1 ﾿ Multiple Tube Fermentation Method ﾿ 31

2.9.1.2 ﾿ ATP Testing Method ﾿ 31

2.9.1.3 ﾿ Plate Count Method ﾿ 32

2.9.1.4 ﾿ Membrane Filtration Method ﾿ 32

2.9.1.5 ﾿ Pour Plate Method ﾿ 33

CHAPTER THREE

Materials and Methods ﾿ 34

3.1 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 34

3.2 ﾿ Collection of Water Samples ﾿ 34

3.3 ﾿ Materials Used ﾿ 34

3.4 ﾿ Preparation of the Media ﾿ 35

3.5 ﾿ Microbiological Analysis of Water Samples ﾿ 35

3.5.1 ﾿ Total Viable/Heterotrophic Count ﾿ 35

3.5.2 ﾿ Enumeration of Total Coliform ﾿ 36

3.5.2.1 ﾿ Confirmative Tests ﾿ 36

3.5.2.2 ﾿ Completed Tests ﾿ 36

3.5.3 ﾿ Total Fungal Count ﾿ 37

3.6 ﾿ Characterization and Identification of Bacterial Isolates ﾿ 37

3.7 ﾿ Biochemical Tests for Identification of Bacterial Isolates ﾿ 37

3.7.1 ﾿ Gram Stain Test ﾿ 37

3.7.2 ﾿ Catalase Test ﾿ 38

3.7.3 ﾿ Coagulase Test ﾿ 38

3.7.4 ﾿ Oxidase Test ﾿ 38

3.7.5 ﾿ Indole Test ﾿ 39

3.7.6 ﾿ Citrate Test ﾿ 39

3.7.7 ﾿ Motility Test ﾿ 39

3.7.8 ﾿ Carbohydrate Fermentation Test ﾿ 40

3.8 ﾿ Characterization and Identification of Fungal Isolates ﾿ 40

CHAPTER FOUR

Results ﾿ 41 ﾿

CHAPTER FIVE

Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 56

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 56

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 60

References ﾿ 62

Appendix I ﾿ 68

Appendix II ﾿ 72