PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF SEVERAL BOREHOLE WATER IN UMUDIKE AREA

ABSTRACT

This study examines the physicochemical and microbiological attributes of water samples obtained from seven boreholes.  The physicochemical attributes revealed that the ammonia, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, chloride contents, conductivity and total dissolved solids were below the permissible levels. However, total alkalinity, total hardness and BOD values of water samples were lower than the permissible levels. The pH of water samples ranged from 4.13-4.73, showing that only two samples fell within the permissible levels. Similarly, the temperature ranged from 27.2-28.0oC, The microbial quality of the water samples indicates extensive microbial contamination involving heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms, Staphylococci. However, Salmonella was not isolated in this study. Bacterial isolates such as Escherichia, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, with multiple drug resistance for penicillin and vancomycin and susceptible to fusidic acid cefoxitin and meticilin. The safety of the borehole water can be enhanced through regular cleaning, disinfection of storage tanks and further treatment by end users to ensure the portability of water. This study provides baseline data with regard to the quality of underground water within Umudike, Abia State Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title ﾿ i ﾿                   

Certification ﾿                       ii

Dedication ﾿                       iii

Acknowledgement ﾿           iv

Table of Content ﾿                      v

List of Tables ﾿                      vii

List of Figures ﾿                     viii

Abstract ﾿           ix

﾿                                             

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿ Objectives of study ﾿           ﾿ 3 ﾿             

1.2 ﾿ Justification                                                            ﾿             4

1.3 ﾿ Statement of problem ﾿                                                                        4 ﾿             

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Basic Water Requirements for Human Activities ﾿               5 

2.2. Analysis of Groundwater Quality for Human Requirements ﾿   8

2.3. Sources of Groundwater Pollution ﾿   10 

2.4. Evidence of Groundwater Pollution    ﾿   12

2.5. Health Effects of Groundwater Contamination/Pollution ﾿                15

2.6 Constraints of Groundwater Utilization ﾿    19

2.7. Gaps in Literature ﾿    21

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Study area ﾿                           23 ﾿

3.2 Sample collection ﾿    23 ﾿

3.3 Media preparation ﾿    23 ﾿

3.4 Bacteriological analyses ﾿     24 ﾿

3.5 Identification and characterization of isolate ﾿     25 ﾿

3.6 Physicochemical analyses ﾿    26 ﾿

3.7 Statistical analyses ﾿    30 ﾿

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ﾿     ﾿    31 ﾿

CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION                                                                                 

5.1 Discussions ﾿      44 ﾿                                                       

5.2 Conclusions ﾿                  47                                                                                                                 

5.3 Recommendations ﾿                             47                                                                                                          

REFERENCES ﾿                                         48