Abstract

In most rural communities in Nigeria, access to potable water is still a challenge. Water quality monitoring was conducted on six (6) surface water catchments in Obokun rural communities in South-Western Nigeria. Parameters were determined using internationally accepted procedures. Among the examined water chemical parameters, only NO₃ (50.0 – 154 mg/l) and Mg (20.0 – 110 mg/l) exceeded the WHO and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) recommended thresholds for potable water. All the surface water samples contained total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) (1100 – 5900 cfu/ml) and total coliform (9.00 – 78.0 cfu/100 ml) above tolerant level. Total heterotrophic fungi (THF) were found in 1.00 – 7.00 cfu/ml density range. All the samples (100%) contained thermotolerant coliform (4.0 – 11.0 cfu/100m l), Escherichia coli (4.00 – 7.00 cfu/100 ml), faecal streptococci (1.00 – 5.00 cfu/ml) and Salmonella (1.00 – 8.00 cfu/100 ml) while 67% contained Shigella (1.00 - 6.00 cfu/100 ml). Presence of pathogenic microorganisms in water samples is indicative of faecal contamination. Multidrug resistance ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E. coli andCorynebacterium ulcerans showed that these organisms could pose a serious health threat to the users of the water from these rivers. The qualities of surface water samples used for this study were therefore not suitable for human consumption without adequate treatment. However, most rural community people still rely on surface water for drinking and other domestic use. Identification of cost-effective local water treatment techniques and implementation of WHO Water Safety Plan (WSP) will improve water quality and minimize risks to human health.

Key words: surface water, rural water, quality surveillance, microorganisms, antibiotic sensitivity.