Abstract
Solar Disinfection (SODIS) has been identified as a relatively cheap method of purifying water against pathogens, therefore providing potable drinking water, an essential component upon which living systems and the human body depends. In this study, the antimicrobial efficacy of solar disinfection of drinking well water was studied. A total of thirty (30) wells were randomly sampled from six (6) local government areas in Benin City, based on accessibility and communal usage. The well water was sampled using transparent 1L polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Standard microbiological and biochemical test procedures were carried out to enumerate, isolate, characterize and identify the isolates to genus level. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was also ascertained. Coliform tests were conducted and cell counts were expressed in Most Probable Number (MPN). The study revealed that Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., and Klebsiella sp. and, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. and Candida sp. were the most prevalent heterotrophic bacteria and fungi isolates in the study area in addition to faecal indicators (Escherichia coli and Fecal streptococci) with 83.33% occurrences respectively. The study also revealed that the overall percentage elimination of the identified isolates was recorded as 42.11%, while the percentage elimination of faecal indicators identified was 50%. It was observed that SODIS was very efficacious with a percentage reduction of above 95% for all identified isolates. It was also observed that SODIS is slightly more bactericidal as compared to its being fungicidal. From the study, it could not be ascertained with certainty whether or not, exposure to SODIS alters a microbial pathogens’ antibiotic susceptibility. The use of SODIS did not completely eliminate all the faecal coliforms isolated in the studied well water, therefore making it unfit for drinking with regards to WHO recommendation. Consequently, the study recommends the use of SODIS only in conjunction with other water purification methods to ensure potability.
Highlights
Water is an essential component upon which living systems and the human body depends
The quality and potability of water is of immense importance for the optimal functioning of the human body
The WHO recommends that drinking water from any source including wells must be free from microbial pathogens for it to be considered safe for consumption
Summary
Water is an essential component upon which living systems and the human body depends. The quality and potability of water is of immense importance for the optimal functioning of the human body. The WHO recommends that drinking water from any source including wells must be free from microbial pathogens for it to be considered safe for consumption. Due to pollution of drinking water with common sources of contaminants, potable water has become a rare commodity and of public health concern (Kuruf et al, 2010). A quick review of literature reveals that most sources of drinking water in Nigeria are polluted with both solid and liquid contaminants. Microbial pathogens especially coliforms are frequently isolated from various water sources including well water which exceeds WHO recommendation (Obafemi et al, 2018)
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