Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Qualities of Potable Water Sources in Okorenkoko, Delta State Nigeria

Abstract

Accessibility of Potable water in rural and riverine communities have reduced drastically in recent times. A total of six borehole water samples and a freshwater sample were obtained from Okerenkoko community in Delta State, Nigeria. The water samples were analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological parameters using standard procedures. Pearson correlational analysis was employed to evaluate the level of association of the data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. Our results showed that pH concentration values ranged from 5.62 to 7.81, electrical conductivity had 10.03 to 490.01 µS/cm, dissolved oxygen varied from 3.90 to 7.91 mg/L, COD had 10.01 to 50.03 mg/L. The fecal coliform count ranged from 4- 2400 MPN/ml, while the surface water had a fecal coliform count 2400 MPN/ml; fungal count 3.1 Log10CFU/ml and 3.6 Log10CFU/ml respectively, Total aerobic count had a maximal concentration value of 5.8 Log10CFU/ml and 5.4 Log10CFU/ml; Total Salmonella Shigella Count it had a concentration of 4.0 Log10CFU/ml. Microbes associated with the water samples were Bacillus sp., Escherichia sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Vibrio sp. and Micrococcus sp. There is an urgent need to source-track the trajectory of pollutants from both from domestic and industrial activities. There is need that the government at all levels should improve the available potable water resources in Okerenkoko community.