ABSTRACT

Safe water is a precondition for health and development and is a basic human right, yet it is still denied to hundreds of millions of people throughout the developing world. This study evaluated two borehole water samples in Agbama. Umuahia South LGA of Abia. A total amount of 100ml of water sample was taken from each borehole samples as (five 10 ml, five 1ml and one 50ml amount) and inoculated into bottles of sterile double strength and single strength MacConkey broth of the same amount each containing an inverted Durham tube for gas collection and detection. Eva bottle water was used as control. This was incubated aerobically at 35°C for 48 hours. After incubation at 35°C, the number of bottles in which lactose fermentation with acid and gas production had occurred were counted. Lactose fermentation and acid production was evidenced by a change in the colour of MacConkey broth from purple to yellow and gas production was seen by the displacement of broth in the Durham tube with bubbles. Physical properties ofthe samples were examined such as (pH, Colour, taste and odour). All samples used were colourless. The pH of sample 1 and 2 were slightly acidic while the control sample was neutral. Sample 1 and 2 and the control samples were odourless. The total heterotrophic plate counts ranged from 1.4 x 106 to 6.2 x 102 Cfu/ml. The numbers of coliform ofsample 1 and two ranged from 5- 180 Cfu/ml.