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
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
4.1 Percentage responses on the sources of
water in Umudike area.
32
4.2 The morophological and biochemical
features of bacterial isolates.
34
4.3
Frequency of occurance of the bacterial isolate in the water
samples. 36
4.4 Total viable bacterial count
(cfu/ml).
38
4.5 Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the
bacterial isolate (mm).
40
4.6 The mean values of the parameters.
4
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Title Page
4.6: Shows a graph of sample one
only plotted against the parameters. 43
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Water
is a universal solvent which is one of the most common and important natural
resources essential for the existence of all form of life on earth. It is used
by man for different purposes thus the importance of ensuring its quality
cannot be overemphasized. Water is essential in the life of all living
organisms from their simplest plant to the most complex living system known as
human body (Onifade and Mori, 2008). The
availability of potable water in many developing countries like Nigeria has
often constituted issues of public health concern. Ensuring the good quality of
potable water is basic factor of guaranteeing public heath, environmental
protection and sustainable development. (Rajini et al., 2010)
The
accessibility of potable water in Nigeria is often limited. This has prompted
large dependence on stream, river and borehole water (Shuttu et al., 2008).
The quality of ground water is affected by the characteristics or the media
through which the water passes on its way to the ground water zone of
saturation (Adeyemi et al,. 2007). Industrial effluent,
traffic municipal wastes, hazardous waste sites as well as agricultural run
offs and accidental oil spillages have resulted in the steady rise of ground
water contamination (Igwilo et al., 2006). Recently the increase n
the dumping of material and metal containing solid waste have been attributed
to human activities, industrial proliferation and the increase in the use of
artificial fertilizers for farming. Those metals are leached from soil surface to
the ground water thus reducing the quality of the ground water (Babagana et al., 2009).
Notwithstanding
the importance of water to life, it could also serve as vehicle for
transmission of pathogenic organism and dangerous organic matter (Olajubu and
Ogunike, 2014). The discharge of
domestic sewage and industrial effluent into natural water sources have led to
a significance rise in the cases of water pollution all over the country. Thus,
the uniqueness of water bodies have deteriorated over time as it gets enriched
with pollutants (Geetha et al., 2004).
According to WHO (2006) about 80% of all diseases in human is caused by water.
An estimate of 10 million deaths per year has been associated with cases of
ingestion of contaminated water. Hence water which may look and taste good may
not necessarily be safe to drink as it may be polluted with harmful bacteria,
parasites and viruses (Geetha et al., 2014).
During passage through ground, water dissolves minerals in rocks collect
suspected particulate matter particularly from organic source as well as
pathogenic microorganism from faecal matters etc.
The
consequences of water borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, stomach cramp
etc have been well established but nitrate contamination just as deadly,
consequent to the realization of potential health hazard that may result from
contaminated drinking water from any source is therefore of primary importance
because of the danger and risk of water borne diseases (Edema et al., 2001). Some microorganism are
commonly associated with water pollution, these includes; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella
spp, Mycobacterium spp, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Cyanobacteria, etc.
Often
time, the presence of bacteria in water has often been used as reliable
indication of water contamination (Clark and Pagel, 1977). Atlas and Bartha (1993)
considered the fact that bacteria plays important role in global ecosystem
which constitute the major factor of controlling the quality and are fated
determinants of pollution released into
the environment. Before water can be described as potable, it has to comply
with certain physical, chemical and microbiological standard which are designed
to ensure that the water is potable and safe for drinking (Tebott, 1983). However; clean, pure, and soft water can only exist
briefly in nature and immediately contaminated (i.e. polluted) by prevailing
factors aided by human activities (Eze and Madumere, 2012).
Conformation
with physicochemical and microbiological standard is of special; interest
because of the capacity of water to spread diseases within a large population.
Although, the standard varies from place to place, the objective anywhere is to
reduce the possibility of spreading water borne disease to the barest minimum
in addition to being pleasant in all respects (Edema et al., 2001). Hence, a good knowledge of the chemical qualities of
rain water is an essential guide to its suitability for use.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
aim of this study is to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical
quality of different borehole water in Umudike, Abia State. The objectives are:
i.
Isolation and
identification of bacteria from different borehole water samples.
ii.
Enumeration of the most
probable number of the coliform count and bacterial load from the different
borehole water samples.
iii.
Evaluating the
physicochemical properties of the water samples.
1.2 JUSTIFICATION
Good
drinking water is one of the most essential requirements of life which is
fundamentally important to all plants, animals and man. The importance of
ensuring its quality and portability cannot be overemphasized as it serves as a
basic factor to guarantee public health, environmental protection and
sustainable development (Rajini et al., 2010).
The large dependence on stream, river and borehole water in developing
countries like Nigeria have over the years given rise to the spread of water
borne diseases like cholera, diarrhea etc have prompt the microbiological and
physicochemical analysis of borehole water to ensure its portability.
1.3
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The
outbreak of water borne diseases particularly in Nigeria has raised issues of
public health concern. The limited availability of portable water in the
country has resulted in the dependence on rivers, streams and borehole, with
dependence on borehole water source being rampant in Umudike. Studies have
shown that as underground water passes through the ground, it dissolves mineral
rocks, collect suspended particulate matters particularly those from organic
sources whilst not ruling out contamination by microorganisms from faecal
origins. Hence over the years, researches have been on going to ascertain the
microbial and physicochemical quality of this borehole water.
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