BACTERIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PACKAGED AND OTHER DRINKING WATER SOURCES IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PACKAGED AND OTHER DRINKING WATER SOURCES IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-05
Authors
ENENYA, Rufus Precious
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Abstract
Continuous increase in the sale and indiscriminate consumption of packaged drinking water and untreated water types such as borehole and well waters in Nigeria is of public health significance. Three hundred samples comprising 120 sachets, 60 bottled water brands, 60 borehole and 60 well water samples from five sampling sites in Zaria, North Western Nigeria were analysed microbiologically and physicochemically using standard procedures. Membrane filter technique was used to detect the presence of bacterial indicators of water quality as well as specific pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Enterococcus spp. The research was conducted between June 2014 to February 2015 during the wet and dry seasons. Isolated pathogens were characterized conventionally, using MicrogenTM ID Kits and molecularly by Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR). The nitrate level in samples of the wells (100%) and borehole (40%) water were above the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) minimum contamination level of 10mg/l. Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) contents of boreholes, wells, and brands of sachet waters were above the minimum permissible limits set by NAFDAC (0.003mg/l and 0.01mg/l respectively). However, Lead (Pb) was not detected in the bottled water brands sampled. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were detected in sachet water brands (80%), bottled water brands (20%), borehole (100%) and well water (100%). Enterococci were recovered from sachet water brands (70%), borehole (100%) and well water (100%). There were no statistically significant differences (P≤0.05) between the total coliform counts of the sachet water brands and borehole water in Zaria, therefore, the purity of sachet water as claimed by the manufacturers is doubtful. Bacteriological counts were higher during the wet season than dry season. Antibiogram of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (80%) and Enterococcus spp (37.6%) isolates showed multiple antibiotics resistance (MAR) with MAR indices of 0.3 and above. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified some housekeeping genes such as tuf gene of Enterococcus genus and antibiotics resistance genes such as glycopeptides Vancomycin and Teicoplanin resistance gene VANR. Escherichia coli O157:H7 extended spectrum β-lactamase genes: bla-TEM and bla-CTX-M genes. Most of the sachet water brands fell below NAFDAC and WHO drinking water standards and are therefore of doubtful quality and need strict adherence to standards. Efforts need to be intensified in the monitoring of activities in this rapidly expanding industry with a view to raising standards while government at all levels in Nigeria should take the issue of supply of adequately treated water to the public as an essential public service.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
BACTERIOLOGICAL,, PHYSICOCHEMICAL,, QUALITY ASSESSMENT,, PACKAGED,, DRINKING WATER,, SOURCES,, ZARIA,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA