BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER SOURCES IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN AKPABUYO LGA

Water is an essential resource for sustaining life and promoting public health. Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people worldwide lack access to such water sources, leading to severe health consequences. The aim of this study is to carry out bacteriological analysis of water sources in selected communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. This was done using pour plating and spread plate method. The bacterial count of water sources ranged from 1.21x10° CFU/g to 3.43x10° CFU/g. (3.43x10° CFU/g) while, the result also revealed the coliform count of the samples ranges from 5.6 x 10°CFU/g to 1.16 x 10° CFU/g. The result also revealed the Faecal count of the samples ranges from 1.1 x 10°CFU/g. to 4.7 x 10* CFU/g. The biochemical characterization and identification revealed a total of fifteen (15) bacteria genera, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Corynebacterium, Proteus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus. The contamination rate and percentage distribution accessed on water sources revealed that among the water isolates Salmonella, Pseudomonas had the highest prevalence occurrence (18.1%) followed by Streptococcus puenmoniae, Escherichia coli, Corynebactrium diptheriae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus Jaecalis, Klebsiella puenmoniae, Staphylococcus aureus had the lowest percentage of occurrence. It revealed significant contamination with pathogenic bacteria, posing health risks to consumers. Government should provide community education on waterborne disease prevention.