BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BOREHOLES AND SPRING WATER SOURCES FROM SELECTED RURAL COMMUNITIES IN AKPABUYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT Water is vital for survival and absolutely necessary for most life driven processes. Satisfactory supply of clean, safe, and hygienic drinking water is therefore imperative for good health amongst other benefits. This study examined the bacteriological quality of borehole and spring water sources in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State. A total of 16 samples were collected aseptically for bacteriological analysis. The isolates were initially differentiated on the basis of cultural and morphological studies after which there were subjected to biochemical test. The results of the bacteriological analysis of sampled water sources The result ranged between 2.1 x 105cfu/100 ml to 4.5 x105 cfu/100 ml, and total coliform ranged from 0 cfu/100ml to 2.4 x 105 cfu/100ml, while faecal coliform count ranged between 0 cfu/100 ml to 2.0 x 105 cfu/100 ml. SP3 recorded the highest value of total heterotrophic bacteria count and total coliform count while BO3 with the least for both parameters. In term of faecal coliform count, the highest value of faecal coliform was obtained in SP2 while BO3, BO4 and BO8 had no isolated faecal coliform. Based on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolated from the water sources, the following bacteria were isolated; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus spp, Proteus spp., Corynebacterium diphtheria, Streptococcus faecalis, and Citrobacter freundii. The organism with the highest occurrence in the studied water samples was E. coli 31.6%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus 21.05%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15.8%, while Lactobacillus spp, Proteus spp., Corynebacterium diphtheria, Streptococcus faecalis, and Citrobacter freundii had the lowest occurrence. The presence of faecal coliforms such as E. coli is of public health importance because it indicate recent pollution of water bodies by human/animal faecal wastes and sewage. Water quality analysis should be carried out on all the drinking water sources in the communities at least once every year. This will ensure that incidences of contamination are noticed earlier for remedial action to be taken.