Bacteriological And Physicochemical Analysis Of Pipe-Borne Water In Umuahia, Abia State

ABSTRACT

Bacteriological and physicochemical analysis of pipe-borne water used in Umuahia, Abia State were analyzed bacteriologically and physicochemically using standard methods. Total viable counts was by pour plates techniques, while most probable number (MPN) counts were by the multiple tube fermentation technique. The physicochemical attributes revealed that the temperature and the pH of the water samples were within the range 27-300C and 6.5-7.5 respectively, which was found to be normal according to WHO standards of water. The total viable counts for all the water sample were generally high exceeding the limit of 1.0 x 102 cfu/ml for water. The MPN/100mL counts were determined after the presumptive, confirmatory and completed tests were carried out. Water from Amachara was found to have the highest count of about 4.25 colonies/100mL of water to 7.15 colonies/100mL of water, which could be as a result of broken pipes or leakages. The faecal coliform count on EMB agar plates ranged between 1.5-7.2 x 102 also exceeding the standard limit for water. The isolated organisms were identified to be Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas species, Shigella species, Streptococcus and Klebsiella species. This water is not potable for consumption. The safety of the pipe-borne water can be enhanced through proper sanitary survey and facility maintenances, by proper supervision with regular bacteriological assessment of the water using the water standard criteria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Page 

Title Page ﾿

Certification ﾿ i

Dedication ﾿ ii

Acknowledgement ﾿ iii

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   iv

List of figures ﾿             v

List of Tables ﾿ vi

Abstract ﾿ vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Aim and Objective ﾿ 4 ﾿

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 ﾿ Literature Review ﾿ 6

2.1 ﾿ Water ﾿ 6

2.2 ﾿ Sources of Water ﾿ 6

2.3 ﾿ Surface Water ﾿ 6

2.4 ﾿ Ground Water ﾿ 7

2.5 ﾿ Bacteriological Analysis of Water ﾿ 7

2.6 ﾿ Indicator Organisms ﾿ 8

2.6.1 ﾿ Coliforms ﾿ 9

2.6.2 ﾿ Faecal Coliforms ﾿ 9

2.6.3 ﾿ Escherichia coli ﾿ 10

2.6.4 ﾿ Faecal Streptococci ﾿ 12

2.6.5 ﾿ Other Indicators ﾿ 12

2.7.0 ﾿ Method for Sanitary Analysis of Water ﾿ 13

2.71     Most probable number technique                                                                               13                                                                  

2.7.2    Presence-Absence Tests                                                                                             14                                                                                          

2.7.3    Plate Count Technique                                                                                               14 ﾿

2.8      Physicochemical Properties of Water                                                                          16

2.8.1   Physical Properties    ﾿ 17

2.8.1.1 ﾿ Colour ﾿ 17

2.8.1.2 ﾿ Taste ﾿ 17

2.8.1.3 ﾿ Odour ﾿ 18

2.8.1.4 pH ﾿ 18

2.8.1.5 Temperature ﾿ 19

2.8.1.6 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ﾿ 19

2.8.1.7 Turbidity ﾿ 19

2.8.1.8 Conductivity/Electrical Conductance ﾿ 19

2.8.1.9 Corrosivity ﾿ 20

2.9.2 Chemical Properties ﾿ 20

2.9.2.1 Hardness of Water ﾿ 20

2.9.2.2 Acidity ﾿ 21

2.9.2.3 ﾿ Metal Ions (Cations) ﾿ 21 

2.10 ﾿ Current Regulations and Surveillance of Drinking Water ﾿ 24

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1    Study Area                                                                                                                    2

3.2    Sample Collection ﾿ 26

3.3    Bacteriological Methods ﾿ 27

3.3.1 Media Preparation ﾿ 27

3.3.2  Enumeration, isolation and identification ﾿ 27

3.3.3 Identification and Characteristics of Isolates ﾿ 28

3.3.3.1 Cultural Examination ﾿ 28

3.3.3.2 Gram Staining ﾿ 28

3.3.3.3 Test for Motility (Stab Culture Technique) ﾿ 29

3.3.3.4.Catalase Production Test ﾿ 29

3.3.3.5 Oxidase Test ﾿ 29

3.3.3.6 Coagulase Test ﾿ 30

3.3.3.7 Citrate Test ﾿ 30

3.3.3.8 Urease Production Test ﾿ 30

3.3.3.9 Carbohydrate Utilization Test ﾿ 31

3.4 ﾿ Test For Coliforms ﾿ 31

3.4.1 ﾿ Presumptive Test ﾿ 31

3.4.2 ﾿ Confirmed Test ﾿ 32

3.4.3 ﾿ Completed Test ﾿ 32

3.4.4 ﾿ Physicochemical Analysis of Water Samples ﾿ 32

3.5 ﾿ Bacteriological Analysis ﾿ 33

3.5.1 ﾿ Isolation of Microorganisms ﾿ 33

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT ﾿ 34

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUTION

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 39

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 40

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ ﾿

References