PREVALENCE OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM STORAGE WATER TANKS AT URUAGWU COMMUNITY IN NNEWI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE
Rita Ngozi Otuadinma, Justina Chimezie Akulue, U.F. Onwuasoanya and Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu*
ABSTRACT
Access to safe drinking water remains a significant public health challenge in many rural communities. In Uruagu, water is primarily sourced from boreholes and rainwater, both stored in overhead rubber tanks. This study investigated the prevalence of bacterial contaminants in these storage systems to assess potential health risks. Water samples were collected from borehole and rainwater storage tanks in the Uruagu community. Standard microbiological techniques were employed to isolate and identify bacterial species. The percentage distribution of each bacterial isolate was calculated and compared across the two water sources. The most frequently isolated bacteria from both water sources were coliforms. "Other coliforms" showed the highest distribution with 62.3% in borehole water and 37.1% in rainwater. Escherichia coli followed, with 20.4% in borehole water and a significantly higher 53.0% in rainwater. Clostridium perfringens was found in 16.7% and 9.1% of borehole and rainwater samples, respectively. Streptococcus faecalis showed the lowest prevalence, occurring in only 0.92% of borehole and 8.3% of rainwater samples. The presence of fecal indicators such as E. coli, C. perfringens, and S. faecalis in stored water highlights substantial contamination and a potential public health threat. These findings underscore the need for improved water storage hygiene, routine microbial surveillance, and community education on safe water practices in Uruagu and similar settings.
Keywords: Water quality, Bacterial contamination, Storage tanks, Fecal indicators, Public health.
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