Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Drinking Water in Wegeda Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Waterborne diseases continue to challenge communities in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Clinical information in Wegeda town showed that the prevalence of waterborne diseases was 58%. This study aimed to evaluate bacteriological and physicochemical drinking water quality in Wegeda town. This study will add valuable scientific data for future intervention. Water samples from protected and unprotected springs, hand-dug well, taps, and households’ containers were collected from November 2018 to June 2019 for bacteriological and physicochemical analyses. Besides, information about the potential risk factors was collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 120 water samples were collected and analyzed for total and fecal coliform counts using the multiple tube fermentation method (MPN). The presence of Escherichia coli was also checked from fecal coliform positive samples collected from households’ containers. Selected physicochemical parameters were also determined using the standard methods. In all cases, the median values of total and fecal coliform counts ranged from 5 to 27 and 2 to 13 MPN/100 ml, respectively. Accordingly, all of the drinking water samples did not comply with the standards. Coliforms were significantly higher in the households’ containers than in the sources ( p < 0.05 ) and also significantly varied by water sources. The highest and lowest coliform counts were recorded in unprotected spring and taps, respectively. Besides, 18.33% of water samples collected from households’ containers were tested positive for E. coli. Regarding physicochemical parameters, most values were within the acceptable limit values recommended by the WHO. However, water samples from unprotected spring and hand-dug well did not satisfy the turbidity limit value set by the WHO. Drinking water systems in Wegeda town were likely contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely due to poor protection and sanitation practices. Providing the community with potable water, toilets, domestic and animal waste disposal systems, and intensive health education and sanitation practices for the community are highly recommended.

Assessment of groundwater quality: Physicochemical and bacteriological evidence from boreholes in Sangayan Diriya village, northeast Nigeria

“…According to Li and Liu (2019), coliforms have got the capability of producing acid and gas when subjected to incubation at the temperatures adopted in this current study. Again, the results obtained in this study on the ability of coliforms to produce gas and acid when found in any water sample are in agreement with other reports that detected total and faecal coliforms in the assayed water samples in their respective study areas (Adeleye et al, 2020;Amoo et al, 2021;Baye Sitotaw et al, 2021). However, the bacterial isolates did test positive to methyl red, glucose, mannitol catalase, indole and lactose but tested negative to urease, oxidation fermentation, triple sugar iron, citrate, gelatin, nitrate reduction and voges-proskauer confirming that Escherichia coli existed in the assayed water samples.…”

“…However, the bacterial isolates did test positive to methyl red, glucose, mannitol catalase, indole and lactose but tested negative to urease, oxidation fermentation, triple sugar iron, citrate, gelatin, nitrate reduction and voges-proskauer confirming that Escherichia coli existed in the assayed water samples. The detection of Escherichia coli in all the water samples assayed in this study is a clear indication of recent feacal pollution of the boreholes (Odonkor and Ampofo, 2013;Miner et al, 2016;Baye Sitotaw et al, 2021).…”

Assessing Water Quality and the Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Surface and Groundwater in Ibi – Taraba State

“…Overall, the results showed that 58 which suggest agricultural activities could likely be the most significant contributor of nutrients in surface water. Similar findings (Daramola et al, 2021;Ighalo and Adeniyi, 2020;Joshua, 2021a;Sitotaw et al, 2021) also highlighted surface water contamination from agricultural activities including disposal of waste and sewage, industrial waste, and leachate from waste disposal sites. Generally, the results suggest that both water sources were unsafe for consumption and can likely result in health issues particularly to children, the elderly, and visitors.…”

“…indicate bacteriological contamination above stipulated guidelines which can result in waterborne or water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and dysentery (Sitotaw et al, 2021). These are common diseases that are currently ravaging the nation's rural populace of which the case study area is not an exception.…”

“…Although both water sources were not of sufficient quality, the result for difference suggests there are likely diverse factors as well as contaminants specific to each water source within the study region. For instance, while it is clear that factors such as improper disposal of waste (including municipal and industrial), agricultural activities, and the high prevalence of open defecation are responsible for surface water contamination (Daramola et al, 2021;Mohammadi et al, 2019;Sitotaw et al, 2021), other factors like weathering of bedrock, hydrogeological interactions, and dissolution of minerals (Awomeso et al, 2020;Ayedun et al, 2019;Ighalo and Adeniyi, 2020;Lapworth et al, 2017), the surface to groundwater interaction (UN, 2022), spatial and temporal factors and climate change (Aladejana et al, 2020;Joshua, 2021a;Yunana et al, 2017) may likely be responsible for groundwater contamination.…”