A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BOREHOLE WATER IN LOW COST KAURA NAMODA ZAMFARA STATE

Since water is one of the essential components required by the body , it is important to assess the quality of water, which is being used for household activities as well as consumption whether it is actually reliable and safe for health of the consumers. Water portability refers to the quality of water that can be safe for consumption and use with no risk of adverse health effects. (Ashbolt et al., 2021). In this research a total of three sample was collected in low cost kaura namoda. All samples were immediately transported to the laboratory for bacteriological analysis. This study assessed the bacteriological quality of three different borehole water samples labeled Sample A, Sample B, and Sample C using the presumptive, confirmatory, and completed coliform tests, along with Most Probable Number (MPN) and Colony Forming Unit (CFU) estimations. Although microorganisms were detected in all borehole water samples, none were coliform bacteria. WHO guidelines recommend that drinking water should not contain detectable coliforms, while heterotrophic bacteria counts below 500 CFU/mL are considered of low concern. Although two samples (A and C) recorded slightly higher counts, they remain within the safe margin compared to untreated surface water sources, which often exceed 10⁵ CFU/mL.The organisms isolated were environmental in origin and not indicative of fecal contamination. The water is microbiologically safe for human consumption without immediate need for treatment. To maintain and improve the bacteriological safety of borehole water in the study area, boreholes should be properly sealed and elevated to prevent surface runoff from entering. Maintaining adequate distance from potential contamination sources such as pit latrines, refuse dumps, and septic tanks, educate local communities on proper borehole maintenance and hygienic water handling practices to avoid post-collection contamination