A survey of microbial pollution of rural domestic water supply in Ghana

Abstract

A short term, baseline study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and levels of microbial pollution in three major rivers in Ghana- the Birim river, Kakum river and the Nakwa river. Routine bacteriological examinations were made to determine the levels of total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC) and faecal streptococci (FS). Results obtained showed that TC, FC and FS counts were high in all the three rivers thus making them unsafe to drink untreated water from those sources. Eight of the 10 stations sampled on the Birim river had their source of pollution from human waste while two stations had a livestock source of pollution. Maximum levels of 4448 TC/100 ml, 1848 FC/100 ml and 214 FS/100 ml were obtained in the Birim river. Two of the seven stations sampled on the Kakum river had their source of pollution from human waste with one station having a predominance of human waste in a mixed source of pollution. Two stations had their source of pollution from livestock and poultry and another two predominance of livestock and poultry in a mixed pollution. Livestock and poultry source dominate pollution in the Nakwa river, with two stations recording purely livestock and poultry source and two other stations showing mixed pollution with livestock and poultry source dominating. Two stations showed human source of contamination. There was no correlation between TC and FS levels on one hand, and FC and FS levels on the other hand, at 95% confidence limit. There was significant correlation, however, between TC and FC levels. High socioanthropological activities in the basins of the three rivers were identified as a contributory factor to the later situation.