ABSTRACT
Aim: This study aimed at examined the presence of coliform bacteria in private wells and boreholes (BH) in peri-urban areas of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, using the approaches of most probable number (MPN) index and coliform count.
Materials and Methods: Seven hundred and sixty-eight water samples were randomly collected during a 1-year period from non-cased wells, burn brick cased wells (BBW), concrete cased wells, and BH in four locations; A, B, C, and D during the wet and dry seasons. One liter of water was obtained from each well at every visit to the four sites, and eight water samples were collected from each visit. The samples were analyzed using multiple tube fermentation methods and pour plate techniques to determine the MPN of coliform/100 ml of water, reading from the MPN statistics table.
Results: One-way analysis of variance statistics was applied using Duncan's new multiple range test to separate the means where there was a significant difference. The result revealed that the MPN index and total coliform counts in all the wells in the locations were above the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit for potable water. The highest MPN index of 54.807 was recorded in Location A and followed by 42.679 in Location B. The MPN index in Locations C and D was 36.740 and 30.943, respectively. There was significantly (p=0.000) higher total coliform count in the wet season (41.48±7.09) than in the dry season (38.33±2.83).
Conclusion: This study shows the presence of coliform bacteria isolates in all the wells and BH that exceeded the WHO permissible limits for drinking water. The water from these sources is unsafe for drinking except after dosing with appropriate germicides. Sensitization of the population on the actions they can take to make the water safe for domestic use is suggested.
Keywords: coliform, contamination, Enterobacteriaceae.
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