EFFECT OF NATURAL PRODUCTS ON THE MICROBIAL LOAD OF WATER FROM DILAPIDATED WELLS IN SLUM AREAS OF AKURE METROPOLIS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Dilapidated wells in slum area are characterized by deplorable environmental condition and are more prone to contamination, therefore this study evaluates the effect of fresh lime juice and pure honey on the microbiological quality of water collected from dilapidated wells in slum areas of Akure metropolis. Water samples were collected from selected slum areas (Oke Aro, Oke Arata, Eru oba titun). Physico-chemical parameters of water samples were assayed, total viable bacterial, fungal, coliform and fecal coliform counts were enumerated using membrane filtration method and effect of fresh lime juice and pure honey on the microbiological quality of water were evaluated. Identification of the pathogenic microorganisms in water was done by standard microbiological method. Agar well diffusion method was used to assay the antimicrobial activity of fresh lime juice and pure honey on each of the isolated microorganisms. The effect of different concentrations, temperature and incubation time of fresh lime juice and pure honey on the isolated microorganisms were carried out. The result revealed that total viable bacterial, coliform, fecal coliform and fungal counts ranged from 127.00±0.47 – 357.00±0.27 cfu/100ml, 27.00±0.40 – 71.00±0.07, 20.00±0.70 – 78.50±0.37 cfu/100ml and 6.00±0.12 – 23.00±0.18 sfu/100ml respectively. After treating the water with 10% fresh lime juice and honey, the microbial loads reduced significantly (p≤0.05). Physicochemical parameters like total dissolve solids, nitrate and iron were higher than the highest desirable values set by WHO for drinking water. The sixteen bacterial species were identified as; Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter gergoviae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yesinia enterocolitica, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter agglomerans, Serratia liquefaciens, Hafnia alvaei, Cronobacter sakazakii, Serratia rubidaca and Providencia stuartii while five species of fungi isolated were; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus acidus, Saccaromyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus penicilloides. Escherichia coli 32(15.61%) and Aspergillus niger 15(45.45%) were the most prevalent bacteria and fungi respectively. This study also revealed that all bacterial isolates were completely killed by 5% and 8% of lime juice and honey respectively at refrigerated temperature after 18 hours while fungi isolates were completely killed by 8% and 10% of lime juice and honey respectively at refrigerated temperature after 18 hours. Hence, lime juice and honey could be used to treat water at appropriate concentration, temperature and time before drinking.