Bacteriological Quality Analysis of Water in Storage Tanks in A University Community, South Southern - Nigeria

The use of unsafe water supplies and microbial contaminated water may pose serious health challenge to users. The aim of the study was to determine the level of bacterial contamination of the various water sources and the suitability for human use and consumption in University of Calabar Community, Nigeria. A total of 30 water samples were obtained from the University storage tanks and analysed for the presence of bacteria. The level of feacal coliform count, total coliform count and heterotrophic bacterial count was analysed using membrane filtration method and standard culture method on a differential and selective media. The samples were cultured on MacConkey and Nutrient agar. The isolates obtained from the above media were subcultured into slants of nutrient agar. Isolates were subjected to Gram staining and biochemical tests. The feacal coliform, Escherichia coli was isolated from all the water samples. Total coliform counts ranged from 1cfu/ml - 92cfu/ml while total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 1cfu/ml to 161cfu/ml. The bacteria species isolated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus species, Enterobacter aerogenes, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Proteus species, Lactobacillus species and Listeria species. The results obtained from this study have shown high level of bacterial load which makes the water unsuitable for human consumption. Further treatment may be needed as the bacteria isolates from the water samples point to feacal contamination which may be due to inadequate treatment of water, contamination while in the storage tanks or passage through contaminated pipes supplying the community. The consumers may be at high risks of enteric bacterial infections.