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Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications

Received: 15 July 2019     Accepted: 4 October 2019     Published: 13 October 2020
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Abstract

A study of the comparative analysis of house-hold drinking water quality in Uli, Anambra State was carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli to evaluate the water, with a view to assessing the public health implication of water from these sources. Trips were made to living homes to obtain samples of their drinking water. Twenty Samples were used for the study. Ten samples were collected from homes that drank straight from the boreholes. Five samples were collected from those that drank sachet water and five from those that drank bottled water. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were utilized using standard methods. Most probable number (MPN) technique was employed in the bacteriological analysis of the water samples. Biochemical tests were utilized in the identification of the microorganisms. Results based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics, revealed the samples to contain three isolates identified as Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. The pH of all the treated water samples were neutral, pH of the borehole water samples was neutral. The temperature of the sachet water samples ranged between 22.5 – 23.5 whereas that the borehole water samples were 22°C – 22.2°C respectively. The total dissolved solid of the treated water samples ranged between 0.82mg/1 and 1.60mg/1, whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 7.07 – 20mg/l. The total suspended solids of the treated water samples were not detected whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 31 – 55mg/l. Results from total coliform counts for the samples were highest in the boreholes with a total coliform count of 2.4MPN per ml. Faecal coliform count was highest in the borehole samples. The presence of high faecal coliform count in the borehole samples could be attributed to the proximity of the boreholes to pit latrines at distances less than the 30m. This does not conform with WHO recommendations for safe drinking water. From the results, all the untreated drinking water sampled from Uli were unfit for human consumption. This could be responsible for the incessant gastroenteritis, staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, dysentery and Klebsiella pneumonia observed in Uli and environs. This study suggests that all the drinking water from various sources used by the inhabitants of Uli and environs should be treated before drinking.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Chemistry (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12
Page(s) 46-53
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Water, MPN, Faecal, Coliform, Drinking

References
[1] Akpoveta, O. V, Okoh, B E, and Osakwe S. A. (2011). Quality Assessment of Borehole Water used in the Vicinities of Benin, Edo State and Agbor, Delta State of Nigeria. Current Research in Chemistry 3: 62-69.
[2] Banu N, and Menakuru H (2010). Enumeration of Microbial Contamination in School Water. A Public Health Challenge. Health 2 (6): 582-588.
[3] Edet A, Nganje T N, Ukpong A J, and Ekwere A S (2011). Ground water chemistry and quality of Nigeria: A Status Review. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 5: 1152-1169.
[4] Ezomo F O, Biose O, and Ajieh MU (2013). Evaluation of Ground water in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research 4: 3-4.
[5] Kupwade R V (2013). Pre and Post Monsoon Monitoring of Ground Water Quality in Region near Kupwad MIDC, Sangli, Maharashtra. International Journal of Chemical Technology Research 5: 2291-2294.
[6] Mgbemena N M, Obodo GA, Okonkwo N A, and Onwukeme BI (2014). Physicochemical Assessment of Borehole Waters in Ovim, Isiukwuato LGA, Abia State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Chemistry 7: 31-33.
[7] Mustafa, A. I., Ibrahim, A. A., Haruna, Y. I., and Abubakar, S. (2013). Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses of drinking water from wash borehole in Maiduguri Metropolis, Boron State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food Science 7 (1): 9-13.
[8] Nwankwoala HO, Marshal HI, and Oborie E. (2013). Characterizations and Quantitative Indicators of Ground water Quality in Okirika, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Science Inventions Today 2: 319-334.
[9] Okeola OG, and Salami A W (2014). Ground water Resources in the Nigeria’s Quest for United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and beyond. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 16: 57-71.
[10] Tripathi B, Pandey R, Raghuvanshi D, Singh H, and Pandey V, (2014). Studies on the Physico-chemical Parameters and Correlation Coefficients of the River Ganga at Holy Place, Shringverpur Allahabad. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology 8: 29-36.
[11] WHO (2013). International Standards for Drinking Water (8th ed.) Geneva, pp. 36-38.
[12] Willey, J. M., Sherwood, L. M. and Woolverton, C. J. (2008). Prescott, Harley and Klein’s Microbiology, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill Company Inc., New York, Pp. 500-1060.
[13] Kulthanan, K., Piyavadee, N. and Supenya, V, (2019). The pH of water from various sources; an overview for recommendation for patients with atopic dermatitis Asian Pacific Allergy 3 (3): 155.
[14] Kifayatulla, K. and Ruoyu, L. (2019) Prevalent fecal contamination in drinking water sources and potential health risk in Swat Pakistan, Journal of Environmental Sciences 72: 1-2.
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    Umeaku Chinyelu Nkiru, Chris-Umeaku Chiamaka Ijeoma, Okeke Ugocukwu Chibeze, Uzor Chiagoziem Ugonwa, Samuel Adaora Kosisochukwu. (2020). Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications. International Journal of Environmental Chemistry, 4(2), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12

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    ACS Style

    Umeaku Chinyelu Nkiru; Chris-Umeaku Chiamaka Ijeoma; Okeke Ugocukwu Chibeze; Uzor Chiagoziem Ugonwa; Samuel Adaora Kosisochukwu. Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications. Int. J. Environ. Chem. 2020, 4(2), 46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12

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    Umeaku Chinyelu Nkiru, Chris-Umeaku Chiamaka Ijeoma, Okeke Ugocukwu Chibeze, Uzor Chiagoziem Ugonwa, Samuel Adaora Kosisochukwu. Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications. Int J Environ Chem. 2020;4(2):46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12,
      author = {Umeaku Chinyelu Nkiru and Chris-Umeaku Chiamaka Ijeoma and Okeke Ugocukwu Chibeze and Uzor Chiagoziem Ugonwa and Samuel Adaora Kosisochukwu},
      title = {Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Chemistry},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {46-53},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijec.20200402.12},
      abstract = {A study of the comparative analysis of house-hold drinking water quality in Uli, Anambra State was carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli to evaluate the water, with a view to assessing the public health implication of water from these sources. Trips were made to living homes to obtain samples of their drinking water. Twenty Samples were used for the study. Ten samples were collected from homes that drank straight from the boreholes. Five samples were collected from those that drank sachet water and five from those that drank bottled water. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were utilized using standard methods. Most probable number (MPN) technique was employed in the bacteriological analysis of the water samples. Biochemical tests were utilized in the identification of the microorganisms. Results based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics, revealed the samples to contain three isolates identified as Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. The pH of all the treated water samples were neutral, pH of the borehole water samples was neutral. The temperature of the sachet water samples ranged between 22.5 – 23.5 whereas that the borehole water samples were 22°C – 22.2°C respectively. The total dissolved solid of the treated water samples ranged between 0.82mg/1 and 1.60mg/1, whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 7.07 – 20mg/l. The total suspended solids of the treated water samples were not detected whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 31 – 55mg/l. Results from total coliform counts for the samples were highest in the boreholes with a total coliform count of 2.4MPN per ml. Faecal coliform count was highest in the borehole samples. The presence of high faecal coliform count in the borehole samples could be attributed to the proximity of the boreholes to pit latrines at distances less than the 30m. This does not conform with WHO recommendations for safe drinking water. From the results, all the untreated drinking water sampled from Uli were unfit for human consumption. This could be responsible for the incessant gastroenteritis, staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, dysentery and Klebsiella pneumonia observed in Uli and environs. This study suggests that all the drinking water from various sources used by the inhabitants of Uli and environs should be treated before drinking.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    T1  - Comparing the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Properties of House-hold Drinking Water in Uli and Assessing the Associated Public Health Implications
    AU  - Umeaku Chinyelu Nkiru
    AU  - Chris-Umeaku Chiamaka Ijeoma
    AU  - Okeke Ugocukwu Chibeze
    AU  - Uzor Chiagoziem Ugonwa
    AU  - Samuel Adaora Kosisochukwu
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    SP  - 46
    EP  - 53
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1460
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20200402.12
    AB  - A study of the comparative analysis of house-hold drinking water quality in Uli, Anambra State was carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli to evaluate the water, with a view to assessing the public health implication of water from these sources. Trips were made to living homes to obtain samples of their drinking water. Twenty Samples were used for the study. Ten samples were collected from homes that drank straight from the boreholes. Five samples were collected from those that drank sachet water and five from those that drank bottled water. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were utilized using standard methods. Most probable number (MPN) technique was employed in the bacteriological analysis of the water samples. Biochemical tests were utilized in the identification of the microorganisms. Results based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics, revealed the samples to contain three isolates identified as Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. The pH of all the treated water samples were neutral, pH of the borehole water samples was neutral. The temperature of the sachet water samples ranged between 22.5 – 23.5 whereas that the borehole water samples were 22°C – 22.2°C respectively. The total dissolved solid of the treated water samples ranged between 0.82mg/1 and 1.60mg/1, whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 7.07 – 20mg/l. The total suspended solids of the treated water samples were not detected whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 31 – 55mg/l. Results from total coliform counts for the samples were highest in the boreholes with a total coliform count of 2.4MPN per ml. Faecal coliform count was highest in the borehole samples. The presence of high faecal coliform count in the borehole samples could be attributed to the proximity of the boreholes to pit latrines at distances less than the 30m. This does not conform with WHO recommendations for safe drinking water. From the results, all the untreated drinking water sampled from Uli were unfit for human consumption. This could be responsible for the incessant gastroenteritis, staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, dysentery and Klebsiella pneumonia observed in Uli and environs. This study suggests that all the drinking water from various sources used by the inhabitants of Uli and environs should be treated before drinking.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Uli, Nigeria

  • Department of Biochemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Uli, Nigeria

  • Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Uli, Nigeria

  • Department of Mass Communicatiotion, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Igbariam, Nigeria

  • Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Uli, Nigeria

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