Evaluation of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Properties of Borehole Water in Selected Areas of Benin City, Edo State

Abstract

Water is important in African towns and cities, and its quality is paramount to public health. This study therefore, assessed the physicochemical and bacteriological properties of borehole water samples from agricultural, animal farm, and residential areas in Benin City, Edo state. Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses of water samples were based on standard methods. Sheep blood agar was used for hemolytic bacterial isolation, and isolates were subsequently assessed for antibiotic resistance to common antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Physicochemical parameters of borehole water samples assessed were within World Health Organization (WHO) standard with the exception of Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Bacterial analyses revealed counts (1.01±0.10×104 to 4.80±0.10×104 cfu/mL) that were above WHO standard of 100 cfu/ mL as well as high coliform count (1.20 ± 0.23 - 3.00 ±0.63 MPN/10 mL) above WHO standard of 0 MPN/ml. Shigella sp. (23.29%) and Bacillus cereus (21.92%) were the two isolates that occurred most in the study. Hemolytic bacterial pathogens recovered were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus sp. All four pathogens were resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone but Staphylococcus aureus had multiple antibiotic resistant index (MRI) of 0.8 before plasmid curing. This study has shown that borehole water could be sources of bacterial pathogens and therefore, should be properly treated before use. This would help to reduce the incidence of waterborne infections in communities.