Abstract:
Bacteriological and physicochemical properties of drinking water (tap, well and borehole)
in Sokoto metropolis were investigated to determine the level of contamination and the
persistence of target organisms. A total of 270 samples comprising of 90 well water
samples, 90 tap water samples and 90 boreholes water samples were obtained from some
parts of Sokoto metropolis and analyzed using standard procedures. Total coliform count,
heterotrophic plate count, physico-chemical properties feacal-coliform count and the
presence of
Escherichia coli
,
Enterobacter
species,
Bacillus subtilis
,
Shigella
species,
Salmonella
species,
Citrobacter
species,
Staphylococcu saureus
and
Bacillus cereus
were
determined. Biochemical identification showed that out of the 108 confirmed
Escherichia
coli
isolates, 51(47%) were from well water and of the 42
Enterobacter
species recovered
19 (45%) were from well water while5 (42%) out of 12
Salmonella
species were also
recovered from well water. The tap water had 26 (24%)
Escherichia coli
, 13(30%)
Enterobacter
, 3 (25%)
Salmonella
species, 5(71%)
Bacillus species
and other unidentified
organisms while in contrast, borehole water had 31 (29%)
Eschericia coli
, 10 (24%)
Enterobacter
, 4 (33%)
Salmonella
species, 2 (26%)
Bacillus
and other unidentified
organisms. No
Vibrio
species were isolated in all cases. The molecular analysis showed that
out of the 79 isolates identified from biochemical analysis, 40 isolates were further
subjected to molecular analysis using microgen GN-ID System (kit method).There were 13
(33%) inactive
Eechericia coli
, 5 (13%) active
Eschericia coli
and 10 (25%) were other
organisms, while the remaining 12(30%) were not identified. The physicochemical
properties show that the highest pH was in borehole water sample (6.73) while the lowest
was in well water samples (5.7). The highest Electrical conductivity was in tap water
samples (142.67 μs/cm), while the lowest was in well (5.8 μs/cm). The highest value of
dissolved oxygen was in borehole water samples (8.83 mg/l) and the lowest was found in
tap water samples (3.57 mg/l). The highest BOD was in well water samples (15.57 mg/l)
while the lowest was in tap water samples (7.73). Therefore, adequate treatment of all
waters and public health education are highly recommended.
