Abstract
Assessment of spring water from Ikare-Akoko, a rural setting in southwest, Nigeria for microbial and chemical contaminants was carried out. Total heterotrophic bacteria count of 4.0 x 106CFU/mL was highest during the peak of the rainy season in Omi-idu spring (Igbede community) while the lowest population of 0.14 x106 CFU/mL was in Agadagidi spring (Ishakunmi community). The highest coliform population of 2.8 x 106 CFU/mL was at Isunpaiye (Oyinmo community), while the lowest value of 0.19 x106 CFU/mL was recorded at Agadagidi (Ishakunmi). The multiple tube fermentation technique was employed to determine the most probable number (MPN) of coliforms per 100 mL of water sample. The highest MPN/100 mL value of 76 ± 2.1 for coliforms was recorded at Isunpaiye while the lowest value of 5.1 ± 2.1 was in Agadagidi spring. Physico-chemical properties of the spring waters were mostly within the WHO benchmark for potable water. Arae had the highest total dissolved solids (TDS) value of 969 mgL-1 (benchmark, 500 mg/L), total hardness values were normal except at Arae (260 mg/L). Heavy metals levels in the spring water were generally low except in Omi-idu spring. Key words: Rural setting, spring water, heterotrophic bacteria, coliform bacteria, physico-chemical properties, heavy metals.
Highlights
Population increase over the past century has resulted in increase pressure on water resources of the developed and developing countries
The populations of the heterotrophic and coliform bacteria at the onset and peak of the dry and wet seasons respectively showed that Isunpaiye spring had the highest count of 2.04 x 106 CFU/ml while Agadagidi spring had the least population of 0.4 x 106 CFU/ml heterotrophic bacteria at the onset of the dry season
At the peak of the dry season, population of heterotrophic bacteria reduced with the highest count of 0.84 x 106 CFU/ml and lowest count of 0.14 x 106 CFU/ml recorded for Isunpaiye and Agadagidi springs
Summary
Population increase over the past century has resulted in increase pressure on water resources of the developed and developing countries. These pressures involve the contamination from domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes, less direct effects caused by climate change and other ecological disturbances. Population growth pattern suggests that these pressures can only increase without adequate and appropriate interventions. Waterborne diseases pandemic or epidemic can happen and increase dramatically (Ford and Colwell, 1996). In Africa and Asia, most of the large cities utilize surface water but many millions of people in peri-urban communities and rural areas are dependent on groundwater (Obiri-Danso et al, 2009)
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