Journal of
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences

  • Abbreviation: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9820
  • DOI: 10.5897/JTEHS
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 218

Full Length Research Paper

Microbiological assessment and some physico-chemical properties of water sources in Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria

A. O. Ajayi and T. O. Adejumo*
Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 01, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo state, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 18 October 2011
  •  Published: 30 November 2011

Abstract

A comparative study was carried out to determine the quality of three water sources: borehole, well and stream in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. The water sources were assessed for microbiological quality and physico-chemical properties (temperature, odor, color and pH). The stream had the highest plate count of 40 × 105 cfu/ml, while those of borehole and well water had the least of 12 × 105 cfu/ml and 14 × 105 cfu/ml respectively. The isolated organisms were identified as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Flavobacterium sp., Enterobacter sp., Proteus sp. andPseudomonas sp. The most probable number (MPN) of the water sample sources ranged from 8 to 120 coliforms per 100 ml, which signified undesirable level of water pollution in the area covered. Water samples from the boreholes had a coliform range of 32 to 38 × 100 cfu/ml, and were adjudged to be less prone to contamination and potable than the well and stream sources, which recorded relatively higher coliform load of 44 to 70 × 100 cfu/ml.

 

Key words: Bacteriology, borehole, stream, well, water assessment.