Bacteriological Assessment of Selected Borehole Water Samples in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria.

In the present study, the microbial quality of several boreholes, used by people in Umuahia North Local Government Area, were assessed over a period of six months, from February 2011 to July 2011 to determine their safety for human consumption. Pour plate method and multiple tube fermentation methods were used to determine heterotrophic bacterial viable counts and coliform bacterial counts respectively, while standard culture methods were used for bacteria isolation. Total viable counts ranged from 0.32x10^2-1.38 x10^2 cfu/ml, <3 to 11 MPN/100 ml for total coliform bacteria and 0 to 3 MPN/100ml for faecal coliform. 33% of analysed borehole water samples had greater than 100cfu/ml for total viable counts and 0MPN/100ml for faecal coliform respectively. The borehole water samples from studied areas had high counts of faecal coliforms (Escherichia coli), and pathogens (Bacillus, Proteus spp., Enterobacters and Salmonella). High counts of indicator bacteria also constitute a threat to public health. The findings showed that 67% of borehole water from the studied boreholes were not suitable for human consumption and may pose a serious threat to the health of consumers and therefore, there is need for treatment of these borehole waters by the borehole proprietors and also by simple treatment methods such as boiling, filtration before drinking and agitation by the consumers.