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                                                                                                                      

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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