MICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED SELECTED UNDERGROUND WATERS (WELL) IN AKURE METROPOLIS.

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine faecal pollution markers in selected underground water in Akure. This is to gain a better understanding of the behavioural dynamics of faecal indicator bacteria and bacteriophages in the underground water especially to satisfy human health protection. Water samples were collected from selected wells in Akure metropolis over a 12-week period. A total of 96 grab samples were collected using sterile 800 ml sampling bottles and transported in a coolbox containing ice packs to the laboratory within one hour for analysis. The isolation of bacterial indicators (such as E. coli, faecal coliforms, Salmonella, Shigella, intestinal enterococci) were determined using membrane filtration techniques, while the concentrations of somatic coliphages were determined by direct plaque assay using a standardized double-agar layer method. The results revealed that the concentrations of E. coli ranged from 3.66 to 29.33 cfu/100ml, faecal coliforms ranged from 2.33 to 44.6 cfu/100ml, intestinal enterococci ranged from 2.33 to 21.66 cfu/100ml, Salmonella ranged from 0.33 to 20.00 cfu/100ml, Shigella ranged from 2.00 to 14.66 cfu/100ml and somatic coliphages ranged from 1.00 to 12.00 pfu/100ml. Pearson’s rank correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive relationship between water temperature and levels of E. coli (r=0.83), somatic coliphages (r=0.75) and intestinal enterococci (r=0.68). Similarly, the values of salinity also correlated positively with Salmonella (r=0.50) and faecal coliforms (r=0.53).The findings of this study suggests that underground water sources in Akure may be prone to faecal contaminations and hence microbially unsafe for human consumption except treated