Bacteriological and physico-chemical assessment of some borehole water in Wudil Town, Kano State - Nigeria

Abstract

The research was designed to evaluate bacteriological and physico-chemical quality of some borehole water in Wudil town, Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State. Ten (10) borehole water samples were collected randomly from Wudil town using aseptic microbiological procedure. The physicochemical parameters were analyzed following standard qualitative techniques while the total
bacterial loads were analyzed using pour plate method. Coliforms count was done using most probable number technique while identification was done using morphology and biochemical methods. The results of the physicochemical analyses showed the total hardness range to be 69 – 145 mg/L, electric conductivity of 100 - 294µS/cm, turbidity of 2 - 4 NTU, pH of 5.32 - 6.14 and total dissolved solid of 38.4 - 190 mg/L. The total aerobic mesophilic counts of the samples analyzed extended from 2.41 x 102 - 8.09 x 102 CFU/ml, that of coliform also ranged from 3 – 11 MPN/100 ml of the sampled water. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli and Enterobacter species. The study reveals that the borehole water in the study area has public health concern especially due to the presence of E. coli. There is need for improved sanitation, regular water quality monitoring, and protective measures like borehole sealing and chlorination to ensure safe drinking water from the sampled boreholes.