ABSTRACT

Underground water is heavily relied on as the main source of potable water supply in Amizi, Olokoro, with borehole water serving as the conventional source. This has resulted to limited access to potable water, contributing to frequent outbreaks of diarrhea. This research work is aimed at accessing the general quality ofborehole water in Amizi, Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Bacteriological and physicochemical analysis were carried out on three different samples selected randomly from three different houses in the locality. The experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five (5) replicates. Physicochemical analysis like pH, biological oxygen demand and temperature was measured using the portable WTW Multiline P4 meter. Bacteriological analysis of parameters like total coliform count, total fungal count and total viable count was achieved using the serial dilution methods and the plate count agar. In this study, the total viable count for the samples ranged from 0.32 to 3.38 x io4 cfu/ml which is below WHO standard. The total coliform count ranged from 1.72 to 5.14 x 103 cfu/ml which exceeded the WHO standard of zero coliform/lOOml. The physicochemical analysis of borehole water samples obtained from the three locations revealed the following range values: pH (6.28 to 6.85), temperature (29.60 to 30°C), total dissolved solids (252 to 318 mg/1), total suspended solids (64.20 to 122.20 mg/1), biological oxygen demand (2.03 to 2.57mg/l) respectively. The investigation in this study suggests that the borehole water samples were not within the WHO specified limits for the bacteriological parameters. For the physicochemical parameters, pH and temperature were within WHO specified limits except for total dissolved solids, total suspended solids and biological oxygen demand. Therefore, borehole water from Amizi, Olokoro is unsafe for drinking and must therefore be treated before consumption in order to reduce the risk ofinfection.