MICROBIAL EXAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER SOURCES IN SELECTED WARDS IN CALABAR METROPOLIS
Abstract
Drinking water containing bacterial and mineral element level above limits may pose some health
risk. This study aimed to examine the microbial quality of drinking water sources in selected Wards
of Calabar Metropolis. A total of ten (10) drinking water samples were aseptically collected from
ten different sources and locations within the study area. The samples were analysed using
membrane filtration technique. Results revealed that total heterotrophic bacteria count ranges from
2.2x103cfu/ml to 1.50 x104cfu/100ml. The lowest count was recorded by sample WW2 and the
highest by sample TW1. The total coliform ranges from 0cfu/ml to 8.9x103cfu/ml. The lowest
count recorded by sample BH3 and WW2 respectively and the highest by sample TW2. The faecal
coliform ranges from 0cfu/ml to 4.9x103cfu/ml. the lowest recorded by sample TW1, TW3, BH3,
WW2 and WW3 respectively and the highest by sample BH2. Prominent bacteria isolated were
Lactobacillus, Shigella, Proteus, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Citrobacter freudii, E. coli,
Staphilococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus species. E. coli (25%) has the
highest percentage of occurrence while the least occurrence isolates were Proteus spp,
Lactobacillus spp, Shigella spp, Corynebacterium spp, Citrobacter spp and Streptococcus spp at
(6.25%) respectively. The presence of some enteric bacteria is an indication that some of the
drinking water sources were grossly contaminated. There is need for community awareness
creation on water sanitation and strict regulation on water users.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.