Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Hand-dug Well Water Used for Drinking and Domestic Purposes in Dareta Village, Anka, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the bacteriological quality and physicochemical properties of hand-dug well water used as sole source of water for domestic consumption in Dareta village, Anka, Nigeria.
Study Design: In this study ten (10) different well water samples were collected from Dareta village for bacterial assessment and the physicochemical properties.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Nigeria, between July and November, 2012.
Methodology: The samples were also cultured into bacteriological peptone water for enrichment. The culture in bacteriological peptone water was diluted in distilled water using serial dilution for total bacterial count. Some biochemical tests were carried out to identify the pathogens, also MPN was done for total coliform count. The temperature and TDS of the water samples were measured using HACH conductivity/TDS meter and the pH was conducted using Lutron pH 201 meter.
Results: The physicochemical properties of the water indicated that the temperature was 26-29ºC, pH ranged from 5.82 - 6.65 and total dissolved solid ranged from 60 - 380 mg/ml. The result of heterotrophic plate count showed bacterial count range from 33 × 102 - 110 × 104cfu/ml. The most probable number result was from 23 - 1600MPN/ml. The pathogens isolated were Salmonella spp (40%), Escherichia coli (80%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50%).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the presence of these pathogens in the water indicates that none of the water used for domestic purposes in this village meet the maximum acceptable value.