BACTERIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BOREHOLE WATER FROM THREE SELECTED HOSPITALS IN UMUAHIA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The bacteriological and physico-chemical characteristics were carried out for fifteen boreholes in three selected hospitals in Umuahia. The bacteriological analysis was carried out using the Most Probable Number Technique (Multiple-Tube Technique) for the detection of faecal coliform and subsequently organisms present in the samples of water were identified following the Standard Methods. The identified organisms include: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus   aureus and staphylococcus epidermidis. The Total Heterotrophic Plate Count (THLPC) gave a range of 1.5 x103-20.0 while the Total Conform Plate Count (TCPC) gave a range of 1 .0 x103-10.5 x103CFU mL-1.The presumptive faecal coliform ranged between 0-180 coliforms 100 mL-1 giving a mean of 18.73 coliforms per 100 mL. E. coli faecal coliforms were detected in 60% of the water samples. The aesthetic properties of the water samples were acceptable in comparison with local and international standards. These results showed that there is need for treatment of these water boreholes by the borehole proprietors and also by simple treatment methods such as boiling and agitation by the consumers.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page                                                                                                                            i

Declaration                                                                                                                         ii

Certification                                                                                                                        iii

Dedication                                                                                                                           iv Acknowledgements                                                                                                          v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                       viii

Abstract                                                                                                                              ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                                                             1

1.1         Background to the study                                                                                       1

1.2         Problem statement and Justification                                                                     2

1.3         Aims and Objectives                                                                                             2

1.3.1      Specific objectives                                                                                                2

1.4         Significance of the study                                                                                      3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                4

2.1         Bacterial Water Quality                                                                                        4

2.2         Water Quality Changes                                                                                         4

2.3          Water Quality Challenges                                                                                    5

2.4          Biological Indicators of Water Quality                                                                6

2.4.1      Heterotrophic plate counts                                                                                    6

2.4.2       Thermotolerant coliforms                                                                                    7

2.4.3       Faecal Streptococci and Enterococci                                                                   8

2.4.4       Pathogenic bacteria                                                                                              9

2.4.4.1   Salmonella spp.                                                                                                     9

2.4.4.2   Shigella spp.                                                                                                          10

2.4.5      Bacterial water quality risk assessment                                                                11

2.4.6      Physico-chemical indicators of water quality                                                       11

2.4.6.1   Hydrogen ion potential – pH                                                                                11

2.4.6.2   Turbidity - NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units)                                              12

2.4.6.3   Total organic carbon (TOC)                                                                                 12

2.4.7      Water pollution by organic matter                                                                        13

2.5         Common Water Treatment Methods                                                                    14

2.5.1     Solar disinfection                                                                                                  14

2.5.2      Chemical water treatment methods                                                                      14

2.5.2.1   Alum coagulation                                                                                                 14

2.5.2.2   Chlorine treatment                                                                                                15

2.5.3      Treatment with plant extracts                                                                               15

2.6         Microbial Reduction by Coagulation-Flocculation                                              16

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHSODS                                              18

3.1        Sample collection                                                                                                  18

3.2        Media Preparation                                                                                                 18

3.3         Physico-chemical Properties                                                                                18

3.3.1      pH                                                                                                                         18

3.3.2      Temperature                                                                                                          18

3.3.3      Electrical conductivity                                                                                          19

3.3.4      Dissolved oxygen                                                                                                 19

3.3.5      Turbidity                                                                                                               19

3.4         Most Probable Number (MPN) of Total and Faecal Coliforms per 100 ml     19

3.4.1      Presumptive test                                                                                                    20

3.4.2      Confirmatory test                                                                                                  20

3.4.3      Completed test                                                                                                      21

3.5         Faecal Coliforms (thermotolerant Escherichia coli)                                             21

3.5.1      Confirmatory test                                                                                                  21

3.5.2      Completed test                                                                                                      21

3.5.3      Heterotrophic plate counts                                                                                    22

3.6         Identification of Bacteria                                                                                      22

3.6.1      Gram staining                                                                                                       22

3.6.2      Oxidase test                                                                                                           22

3.6.3      Motility test                                                                                                          23

3.6.4      Indole test                                                                                                             23

3.6.5      Citrate test                                                                                                             23

3.7         Statistical Analysis                                                                                               23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS                                                                                        24

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS    28

5.1         Discussion                                                                                                             28

5.2         Conclusion                                                                                                            29

5.3         Recommendations                                                                                                29

References                                                                                                                          30

LIST OF TABLES

Tables                                                                           Pages

1                    Bacteriological counts of water samples from selected Hospitals                   25

2                    Physico-chemical analysis of water samples from selected Hospitals       26

3                    Biochemical characteristics of Bacterial Isolates                                         27

CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION

1.1         Background to the study

The Millennium Development Goals include halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015. The assessment of the health risk from naturally occurring microbes in drinking water continues to be of a high interest to microbiologists, public health practitioners and water supply regulators (Richards et al., 1992; Hunter 1993). Although a number of studies have investigated water supply and quality in sub-Saharan Africa (Shier et al., 1966), very limited information is available from the more sparsely populated arid and semi-arid regions. Livestock movement and migratory wildlife in search of water can contaminate water by carrying pathogens from one source to another. High water evaporation rates increase the concentration of dissolved ions in the water, which favour high microbial growth. Ground water is invariably cleaner than surface water sources in rural areas. However, the latter may need treatment to reduce the load of suspended solids and to kill microorganisms

Removal of suspended solids presents the greatest treatment challenge, and there is a need to develop and choose technologies that will be sustainable in the medium to long term. In general, complex solutions should be avoided. Most drinking waters, even with residual disinfectants, have a natural bacterial population. This is because they use naturally available carbon and nitrogen sources in water to multiply (Manaia et al., 1990; Reasoner, 1990). Addition of phosphates to water bodies influences growth of bacteria even at concentrations of less than 20 µg L-1 (Sathasivan et al., 1997; Lehtola et al., 2002). Animal and human wastes are major sources of nitrogen, phosphates and pathogenic bacteria contamination of aquatic environments. These nutrients can promote growth of pathogenic bacteria implicated in causing disease in humans, wildlife and domestic animals.  The type of treatment technology or combination of technologies to be used depends on the quality of water to be treated. Hence, there is need for monitoring the quality of water bodies and to explore the efficacy  of  various  treatment  options  such  as  coagulants  from  plant  extracts  to  reduce bacterial load and dissolved solutes.

1.2         Problem statement and Justification

Information on the bacteriological quality of water from various sources used for domestic purposes and for livestock watering in Umuahia is limited. Livestock faecal wastes may contain pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. When livestock drink water contaminated with enteric bacteria, they may be exposed to potential pathogens like Salmonella, which cause salmonellosis in cattle and enteric fever (Typhoid) in humans.

Such waterborne diseases have been shown to be capable of infecting large numbers of animals over a short time.

The water treatment potential of natural coagulants to purify water has not been explored. Use of chemical treatments like chlorine as a disinfectant of polluted drinking water is only practiced to a small extent in Umuahia. Apart from the high cost of commercial disinfectants, their use has been reported to lead to the formation of trihalomethane products (Milot et al., 2000), which are potentially carcinogenic (King et al., 1996). There is, therefore, a need to develop water purification methods that are cost effective, locally available and environmentally friendly. Determination of the physico-chemical properties of water such as turbidity, pH, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus will provide useful information on overall water quality and its potential to support bacterial growth (APHA, 2005).   The study examines the relations between the physico-chemical properties and the bacterial properties of ground water sources.

1.3         Aims and Objectives

1.3.1      Specific objectives

i.          To determine the level of bacterial contamination of water from common water sources in selected hospitals/clinics in Umuahia. 

ii.         To compare bacterial load, type with type of water source.

iii.    To compare bacterial load, type and physico-chemical properties of water.

1.4 Significance of the study

Buyers has the right to create dispute within seven (7) days of purchase for 100% refund request when you experience issue with the file received. 

Dispute can only be created when you receive a corrupt file, a wrong file or irregularities in the table of contents and content of the file you received. 

ProjectShelve.com shall either provide the appropriate file within 48hrs or send refund excluding your bank transaction charges. Term and Conditions are applied.

Buyers are expected to confirm that the material you are paying for is available on our website ProjectShelve.com and you have selected the right material, you have also gone through the preliminary pages and it interests you before payment. DO NOT MAKE BANK PAYMENT IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE.

In case of payment for a material not available on ProjectShelve.com, the management of ProjectShelve.com has the right to keep your money until you send a topic that is available on our website within 48 hours.

You cannot change topic after receiving material of the topic you ordered and paid for.