The bacteriological survey of borehole waters in PeriUrban areas of Abakaliki; Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study on the bacteriological examination of borehole water was conducted in peri-urban areas of
Abakaliki Ebonyi State. A total of forty samples were assessed for the presence of coliform bacteria using
Most Probable Number techniques (MPN). The study revealed that some coliform bacteria which make
water unsafe for drinking were implicated from these samples assayed and thus, recorded as follows: E.
coli, (65.5%) klebsiella aerogenes (8.64%), Bacillus sp (6.25 %), Salmonella sp (10.5%) and Bacilla subtilis
(8.62%) were isolated from the water samples assessed, where E. coli (65.5%) was recorded higher among
others from samples collected at Ukwuachi road and Umuoghara. The statistical analysis (p<0.05) showed
that Ukwuachi and Umuoghara boreholes showed high bacteria load compared to others hence the quality
of the borehole waters for drinking. From the standpoint of bacteriological analysis, all borehole water in
these peri-urban areas did not meet the World Health Organization Standards and should be boiled before
drinking to reduce or avoid infectious microorganism which constitute the coliform bacterium in water
making it unsafe for drinking. Since most households in these peri-urban areas solely rely on borehole
water as their main source of drinking and usage for domestic activities but, hence contaminated, the
consequences could be fatal due to the public health risk and dangers associated with drinking such
contaminated water.