Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Mono-pumps and Boreholes used as Sources of Domestic Water Supply in Abonnema Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: This study was carried out to compare the bacteriological and physicochemical qualities of boreholes and mono-pumps water samples used as sources of domestic water supply, in Abonnema Community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Methodology: A total of forty-eight water samples were collected twice monthly for four months and evaluated. The bacteriological parameters such as total heterotrophic bacterial, total coliform, faecal coliform, Vibrio, Salmonella - Shigella and Pseudomonas were analyzed using standard microbiological methods. The coliform was determined using the Most Probable number technique while, the physicochemical parameters were determined using Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.

Results: The total heterotrophic bacterial, coliform, faecal coliform, Vibrio, Salmonella-Shigella and Pseudomonas counts of the borehole samples ranged from 7.2×102 - 2.4×103, 2.3×102–4.0×102, 3.6×102-4.8×102, 7.3×102-1.4×103, 2.1×102-2.8×102 and 0.0×100Cfu/ml, respectively. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts, coliform counts, faecal coliform counts, Vibrio counts, Salmonella-Shigella counts and Pseudomonas counts for the mono-pump samples ranged from: 1.1×103- 1.8×103, 2.0×102– 9.1×102, 2.4×102- 3.8×102, 4.5×102-8.6×102, 1.4×102 - 4.2×102 and 0.0×100Cfu/ml, respectively. The bacterial genera identified were: Bacillus, Lynsinibacillus, Staphylococcus, Vibrio, Serratia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Shigella, Salmonella, Paenibacillus, Aeromonas and Geobacillus. The means of physicochemical parameters for borehole and mono-pump, respectively were: alkalinity: 41.72±0.01-60.85±0.20 and 29.14±0.01-214.87±1.36mg/l; BOD: 8.26±0.01-10.44±0.0 and 5.12±0.01-5.79±0.01; COD: 126.52±0.01-172.41±0.04 and 83.20±0.44-218.00±0.57; DO: 6.31±0.01 and 3.05±0.07-8.29±0.01; calcium: 5.10±0.28-; 4.83±0.00-10.15±0.00 and 2.71±0.00-14.04±0.00; iron: 2.01±0.00-3.37±0.00 and 1.90±0.00-4.73±0.00; lead: 0.38±0.00-1.07±0.00 and 1.24±0.00-1.63±0.00; nitrate: 0.42±0.00-1.08±0.00 and 1.14±0.00-1.75±0.00; zinc:1.10±0.00-3.18±0.00 and 0.39±0.00-1.82±0.00; phosphate: 0.03±0.00-0.13±0.00 and 0.15±0.00-0.87±0.00; pH: 6.54±0.00-7.05±0.07 and 6.29±0.00-6.93±0.01; salinity: 4.02±0.00-5.14±0.00 and 2.83±0.00-5.88±0.00; total organic carbon: 1.39±0.01-2.81±0.010 and 1.64±0.00-3.42±0.01; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon: 32.69±0.00-55.73±0.00 and 45.10±0.00-61.49±0.00mg/l; total petroleum hydrocarbon:58.90±0.00-66.15±0.00 and 60.31±0.00-92.11±0.00 mg/l.

Conclusion: The high counts of bacterial groups of public health importance identified from this study, including the presence of: COD, DO, Fe, Pb, Phosphate, Zinc, TPH and PAH in high concentrations reveals contamination of the water sources. Thus, treatment before drinking is recommended.