Microbial Evaluation of Tap Water in Delta State University, Abraka

Abstract

Water is one of the most abundant resources on which life on Earth depends; in some places, the availability of water is critical, limited, and renewable. The study is aimed at a microbial evaluation of the quality of tap water at Delta State University, Abraka. The pour plate method was used to determine the total heterotrophic count and thereafter, bacterial isolates were characterized using standard microbiological methods. The most probable number technique was employed in determining the total coliform count. Findings from the study revealed the heterotrophic count of the various water samples was between 3.0 x 104 and 3.4 x 105 cfu/ml. The coliform count in the presumptive test ranged from 9 to 240. This research also revealed the presence of bacteria species such as Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., and Aeromonas spp. Enterobacter spp. occurred the most and accounted for 33.33%, while Pseudomonas spp. and Aeromonas spp. accounted for 16.67% each. Escherichia coli was absent in all the water samples analyzed, but the presence of the isolated bacteria species in drinking water is of grave importance. The contamination of water samples may be a result of leaking underground pipes or inadequate sanitary conditions in the storage facilities. In order to improve the quality of tap water in the community, storage facilities have to be maintained periodically, and sanitary conditions should be improved