Bacteriological Analysis of Well Water Sources in the Bambui Student Residential Area

Niba Rawlings Ngwa,Nchang Chrysanthus

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2013.511106

Abstract

Majority of the population in the Bambui student residential area depend on wells as their source of water supply. Due to increasing complaints from students after using this well water sources, this study was carried out to examine the microbial quality of well water sources in the Bambui student residential area, Bamenda, Cameroon as a way of safe guarding public health against water borne diseases. Water samples from a total of fifteen wells, covered and uncovered were assessed for their bacteriological quality using the multiple tube fermentation technique to determine the coliform count using the most probable number method. Positive tubes of the presumptive test were further cultured on appropriate solid media. The organisms isolated were further characterized using standard procedures. The result of the study revealed that most of the wells were grossly contaminated with bacteria pathogens such as Klebsiella species (95%), Escherichia coli (52%) and Salmonella typhi (32.5%). Comparatively, the uncovered wells were more contaminated with bacteria pathogens than the covered well. All the water samples except three exceeded the standard limit of the most probable number (MPN) per 100 ml set for untreated drinking water by the World Health Organization. This result highlight the fact that most well water sources in the Bambui student residential area metropolis are not safe microbiologically for drinking without additional treatment such as boiling or disinfection and this could lead to outbreak of water borne diseases. Good and proper environmental and personal hygiene must be maintained especially by the users of these wells to prevent their contamination with bacterial pathogens. Wells should also be properly constructed.

Highlights

Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology as well as indispensable to man’s continued existence [1]
There have been a lot of complains on health problems such as skin rashes, abdominal discomfort and others by students after using well water sources for drinking bathing and other domestic purposes
Guideline for bacteriological water differs from country to country but they all conform to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation

Summary

Introduction

Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology as well as indispensable to man’s continued existence [1]. Domestic water is generally supplied to homes through private wells or public water companies. Water supplied by public water companies is usually safe to drink and does not pose a health risk. The quality of the water supplied by these companies is periodically checked. Water supplied by a private source is usually safe to drink; it can be contaminated by harmful bacteria resulting from faulty septic tanks, chemicals from a toxic spill that occurred years before, leaking underground storage tanks, or pesticides and fertilizers. There have been a lot of complains on health problems such as skin rashes, abdominal discomfort and others by students after using well water sources for drinking bathing and other domestic purposes. The standards for drinking water are more stringent than those for recreational waters

Methods

Results

Conclusion