Correlative Assessment of the Bacteriological and Physicochemical Parameters of Water Sources in Magama and Bolgang Villages of Langtang South, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between bacteriological and physicochemical parameters of water from wells, streams, ponds and boreholes which serve as drinking water sources to inhabitants of Magama and Bolgang villages of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The water sample were collected from fourteen (14) wells, two (2) streams, two (2) ponds and two (2) boreholes in three (3) batches making a total of 60 samples and subjected to physicochemical tests and bacteriological analysis by membrane filtration techniques. In Magama village, total heterotrophic counts showed bacteria growth in varying degrees with water samples from pond being the most contaminated (7.7 ×10⁵ ± 0.0 ×10⁵ cfu/ml), followed by wells (6.3 ×10⁵ ± 0.7 ×10⁵ cfu/ml) and the least contaminated was from boreholes (1.9 ×10⁵ ± 0.0 ×10⁵ cfu/ml). the total coliform was highest in well water (5.2 x 10⁵ ± 0.3 x 10⁵ cfu/ml) followed by ponds (5.1 x 10⁵ ± 0.0 x 10⁵ cfu/ml) while borehole water had the least count. The heterotrophic bacterial count in Bolgang was highest in ponds (7.6 x 105 ± 0.0 x 10⁵ cfu/ml) and borehole had the least count (1.1 x 10⁵ ± 0.0 x 10⁵ cfu/ml). On the other hand, the total coliform count was highest in well water (5.2 x 10⁵ ± 0.3 x 10⁵ cfu/ml) and least in borehole. Only two of the water samples (Magama and Bolgang Centre boreholes) met the WHO standard for drinking water of 0 coliform as coliforms were isolated from other sources except two. The enteric bacteria isolated included Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhi and Proteus mirabilis. The water from the two villages were found to be unsuitable for consumption and recreational purposes without treatment. Generally, correlation studies revealed that pH, alkalinity and total hardness have a strong positive association with total heterotrophic and coliform counts. Therefore, as compared to standards, the waters studied could be regarded as physicochemically acceptable but bacteriologically unsafe for use as raw water for drinking, animal herding, recreational activities and the irrigation of food crops to be consumed raw. There is need to control the faecal bacteria, the indicator for the faecal pollution of the water bodies. Improvement in water quality and availability will aid hygienic practices and interrupt the transmission of enteric pathogens through contaminated water in the study area. Public health education aimed at improving personal, household and community hygiene is imperative. The waters studied was considered physicochemically acceptable but bacteriologically unsafe for use as raw water for drinking, animal herding, recreational activities and the irrigation of food crops to be consumed raw.