MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BOREHOLE WATER IN AGBAMA HOUSING ESTATE UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE

ABSTRACT

The microbiological and physiochemical analysis were carried out for 10 boreholes in Agbama Housing Estate Umuahia, Abia State. The microbiological analysis was carried out using the most probable number techniques (multiple tube techniques) for the detection of faecal coliform and subsequently, organism present in the samples of water were identified following the standard methods. The identified organisms include Bacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas species, Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Enterobacter species, Streptococcus species, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Vibrio cholerae. The family Bacillaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceace. The fungi identified were; Rhizopus species, Clostridium species, penicillum species, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium species. The microbial count ranged as follows: total heterotrophic bacterial count of 1.4 x 104 Cfu/ml with a mean of 3.66 x 104 Cfu/ml, coliform count, 0.8 x 104 ─ 2.6 x 104 Cfu/ml, Salmonella/Shigella count, 0 x 104  ─ 0 x 104  Cfu/ml with a mean of 0 x104  Cfu/ml, the E. coli count, 0.2 x 104 ─ 2.4 x 104 Cfu/ml, the Vibrio count 0 x104 - 0.3 x104 Cfu/ml, fungal count 0 x 104 ─ 0.3 x 104 Cfu/ml. The physiochemical properties of the water samples was compared with that of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard and APHA standard values for drinking water and it showed clearly that all the values gotten fell within the APHA and WHO standards. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i ﾿

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ vii

Abstract ﾿ viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Statement of problem ﾿ 3

1.2 ﾿ Justification of the study ﾿ 5

1.3 ﾿ Objectives ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ﾿

2.1 ﾿ How water gets into the ground ﾿ 6

2.2 ﾿ Aquifers and bore holes ﾿ 6

2.3 ﾿ Early days of ground water development ﾿ 7

2.4 ﾿ Indicators of ground water quality ﾿ 7

2.5 ﾿ Microbial water quality ﾿ 7

2.5.1 ﾿ Heavy metals ﾿ 10

2.6 ﾿ Indices of water quality ﾿ 11

2.6.1 ﾿ Total dissolved solids ﾿ 11

2.6.2 ﾿ Temperature ﾿ 12

2.6.3 ﾿ pH ﾿ 12

2.6.4 ﾿ Conductivity ﾿ 12

2.6.5 ﾿ Turbidity ﾿ 13

2.7 ﾿ Nutrient contaminants ﾿ 13

2.7.1 ﾿ Sulphate ﾿ 13

2.7.2 ﾿ Phosphate ﾿ 13

2.7.3 ﾿ Nitrates ﾿ 14

2.7.4 ﾿ Ammonium solution ﾿ 14

2.8 ﾿ Potential microbial accumulation in bore holes ﾿ 14

2.8.1 ﾿ Coliform bacteria and bore hole contamination ﾿ 15

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS ﾿

3.1 ﾿ Study area ﾿ 16

3.2 ﾿ Sample collection ﾿ 16

3.3 ﾿ Description of sampling sites ﾿ 16

3.4 ﾿ Media preparation ﾿ 17

3.5 ﾿ Methods for physicochemical analysis of water ﾿ 18

3.6 ﾿ Sample storage ﾿ 18

3.7 ﾿ Determination of physicochemical parameters ﾿ 18

3.8 ﾿ Microbiological analysis ﾿ 21

3.8.1 ﾿ Preparation of serial dilution ﾿ 21

3.9 ﾿ Isolation of Salmonella/Shigella specie ﾿ 26

3.10 ﾿ Isolation of Vibro species ﾿ 26

3.11 ﾿ Identification of fungi ﾿ 27

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ﾿

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ﾿

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 33

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 33

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 34

REFERENCES

APPENDIX 

LIST OF TABLES

Table                    ﾿ Title                                                             Page

1        ﾿ The mean counts f microorganisms isolated from the borehole water ﾿ 29

2 ﾿ Occurrence for bacteria isolated from borehole water samples ﾿ 30 ﾿   

 3 ﾿ Fungi isolated and their percentage occurrence ﾿ 31

 4 ﾿ Physicochemical parameters ﾿     ﾿ 32