Bacteriological Analysis Of Water Tanks

Good quality drinking water can be polluted in many several ways of which faecal and soil pollution are the most important with respect to microbial agents. The aim of the study was to assess the contamination status of drinking water stored in water tanks in residence of Varitas University. Questionnaires were administered to residents to obtain information about the poly tanks and the usage of water from the tanks by users. Samples of the water tank were collected aseptically and 100 ml filtered through sterile membrane filters with 47 mm diameter and 0.45 µm pore size obtained from Merck Millipore. The membrane filters were aseptically placed on prepared sterile agar plates including, Harlequin agar for total coliforms and Escherichia coli, media-faecal coliforms (m-FC) for faecal coliforms, and plate count agar for total viable counts, respectively. The inoculated Harlequin and plate count agar plates were incubated at 37° for 24 h whiles the inoculated m-FC plate was also incubated at 44° for 24 h. From the questionnaires administered, 26% of the study participants said they use the water in the tank for drinking, 70% uses it for cooking, whiles all use it for bathing, and washing purposes. Mean counts of the indicator bacteria in the household storage water tanks ranged 2.5-3.5 log10 CFU/100 ml for total viable count, 2.3-3.2 log10 CFU/100 ml for total coliforms, 2.1-2.6 log10 CFU/100 ml for E. coli, and 0.5-2.9 log10 CFU/100 ml for faecal coliforms. From the study all the selected household storage water tanks were contaminated with faecal indicator bacteria including faecal coliforms and E. coli above the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) standards of concentration of faecal coliforms must be zero in safe drinking water. However, further studies are also recommended to be done to understand the effect of type of water storage tank (i.e.plastic, concrete, etc) on the water contamination.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

• • PROBLEM STATEMENT

• • AIM OF THE STUDY

• • OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

• • SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• • SCOPE OF THE STUDY

• • PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

• • LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

• • RESEARCH QUESTION

• • DEFINITION OF TERMS

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• • OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY

• • BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER ANALYSIS

• • REVIEW OF BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER ANALYSIS METHODOLOGIES

• • BACTERIA IN WATER

• • POPULAR BACTERIA/VIRUS TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

• • PROTECTING WATER TANKS FROM BACTERIAL GROWTH

CHAPTER THREE

3.0      RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• • INTRODUCTION

• • ETHICAL APPROVAL

• • STUDY AREA

• • SAMPLE COLLECTION

• • BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

• • STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1      RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

• • CONCLUSION

• • REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                          INTRODUCTION

Water is indispensable and intricately connected to life, without which there is no life. This is the reason for which water must be given the necessary attention at all times. Good drinking water is not a luxury; it is one of the most essential amenities of life itself. The supply of safe drinking water to all has therefore engaged the attention of many individuals, groups, governmental organizations and private organizations. (Adetunde et al. 2010).

Drinking water free of pathogenic organisms is fundamental to breaking one of the principal transmission routes of infectious disease. This fact has stimulated worldwide investment in the construction of water systems that are designed to meet stringent water quality standards. (Trevett, 2004).

Waterborne pathogens, including a variety of viral, bacterial, algal and protozoan agents, account for much of the estimated 4 billion cases and 2.5 million deaths from endemic diarrheal disease each year. (Kosek et al. 2003).

Increase in human population has exerted an enormous pressure on the provision of safe drinking water, especially in developing countries (Umeh et al. 2005). Unsafe water is a global public health threat, placing persons at risk for a host of diarrheal and other disease as well as chemical intoxication (Hughes et al. 2005). Unsanitary water particularly has devastating effects on young children in developing world. Each year, more than 2 million persons, mostly children less than 5 years of age, die of diarrheal disease (Kosek et al. 2003; Parashar et al. 2003).

Nearly 90% of diarrheal-related deaths have been attributed to unsafe or inadequate-water supplies and sanitation conditions affecting a large part of the world’s population (Hughes et al. 2005; WHO 2004). An estimated 2.6 billion persons lack access to adequate sanitation (Okonko et al. 2008).

This study was aimed to: investigate the bacteriological quality of water stored exteriorly in storage tanks prior to used by the residence; determine some physical and chemical characteristics of these stored water samples; determine the sanitary appraisal of the stored water and provide recommendations on how to minimize contaminations of storage tanks.

1.1                            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Water is a pertinent component of life and its main sources include rain, lakes, wells, streams, springs, ponds, oceans. Though water sources are so numerous on earth, the addition of key word portability to water on earth reduces to a great extent the amount of acceptable useful water on earth. Thus, on a sanitary point of view for domestic water usage, water can be classified as polluted and unpolluted (Twort et al., 2000).

There are three types of water environment and they are atmospheric water, surface water, and underground water (Prescott et al., 2007). During rainy seasons, rain water can serve as a good source of water for domestic purpose if properly stored. Thus, potable water can be obtained from the rainfall if properly collected into a well protected storage tank and can be used for domestic purposes in most homes (Mitra and Roy, 2011).

The primary purpose of the guidelines for drinking water is the protection of public health. Water is essential to sustain life and it must be safe, adequately supplied and accessible to all. The WHO guideline states that water intended for drinking must not contain any concentration of a constituent that will or may result in any significant health risk to the consumers over a lifetime of consumption. It also states that E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria must not be detectable in any 100 Ml sample of water intended for drinking (WHO, 2008). The Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality is also fashioned after the WHO standards.

Humanity is facing water bankruptcy. There is no way of bailing the earth from water scarcity considering it’s availability, domestic and industrial use which has been increasing with increase in population growth and the constancy of the earth fresh water (George and Edward, 1985). Also, it is being polluted as a result of human activities thereby reducing the availability of potable water (Cheesbrough, 2004; Adefemi et al., 2008; Fard et al., 2011; Ndimele and Jimoh, 2011). With the present water crisis human in his efforts has devised some means either to treat polluted water into potable water or to store the little available potable water for long or short term usage.

Storage generally reduces the numbers of organisms in water. Several factors affect the microbial flora of stored waters. These are sedimentation; activities of other organisms, light ray, temperature, food supply (Eniola et al., 2007). Orji and Anyaegbunam (2009) harvested and treated flood water to obtain water that was potentially safe for human consumption. Domestic storage of water can be made in a cemented reservoir, plastic tanks, buckets or metal tanks (Eniola et al., 2006). The purity of this water depends on its source, treatments it has received and the storage facilities available (WHO, 2004). This research is justified due to the significant parts played by storage tanks at many homes in Nigeria so as to bridge the gap of intermittent water supply.

1.2                                   PROBLEM STATEMENT

Waterborne illnesses caused by bacteria found in contaminated household water tanks increases the risk of spreading waterborne diseases and may lead to many infectious outbreaks. World Health Organization (WHO) data on the burden of disease suggest that approximately 3.2% of deaths (1.8 million) and 4.2% of disability-adjusted-life years (61.9 million) worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene [WHO, 2008].

Water has the potential of transmitting a variety of enteric diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, amoebic and bacillary dysentery [Chemuliti JK, 2002]. The main transmission routes are by consumption, contact or transfer that can be easily prevented by the strict provision of maintaining good hygiene and sanitation, and implementing easy methods that will reduce or eliminate the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and filter the contaminated water to provide safe water for human usage and consumption [Nath KJ, 2006]. The study was introduced to analyzed the presence of microorganism in the water tank and thereby creating awareness and bringing solution that will make the water tank safe for the residence of Varitas university.

1.3                     AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

AIM OF THE STUDY:

This study is aimed at the bacteriological analysis of the water from these tanks that supplies water the residence of Varitas University.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. 1. To attain the total bacterial count of the water samples.

1. 1. To determine the coliform counts (Most Probable Number) of the water samples.

1. 1. To determine the species of bacteria present in the water.

1.4                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

According to WHO, water, sanitation and hygiene contribute in preventing at least 9.1% of global disease burden and 6.3% of all deaths [WHO, 2011]. Several studies indicate that the lack of awareness regarding the importance of maintaining clean and hygienic household water tanks contributes to increasing waterborne diseases [Kravitz JD, 1999]. By increasing awareness about the importance of maintaining clean water tank(s) by using easy and effective methods will reduce the chance of pathogenic microorganism survival and disease transmission [Kravitz JD, 1999]. To ensure that the water supply that reaches households is safe; is not just the responsibility of an individual, or household members, it’s the joint responsibility of the community and health authority [Kravitz JD, 1999].

1.5                                           SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is useful in increasing awareness about the importance of maintaining clean water tank(s) by using easy and effective methods which will reduce the chance of pathogenic microorganism survival and disease transmission for the consumers residing in such environment. This study helps to ensure that the water supply that reaches residence is safe.

1.6                                                PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the present study was to ensure that the water consumed by the residence of Varitas University is safe and free of microorganism.

1.7                                                      HYPOTHESIS

HO:     Microbial organisms are identified in water tank.

Hg       = Microorganisms are not identified in water tank

1.8                                             LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

There are many or different places microorganism are identified, but in this study the analysis is only carried out in a water tank located at the Varitas University.

1.9                                                  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

At the end of this work, student involved shall be able to give answers to the following questions:

1. 1. What are the types of microorganisms identified in water tank?

1. 1. What is microorganism?

• • What type of bacteria is commonly found in water tank?

1. 1. What are the sickness that microorganism in the water can cause?

1.10                                               DEFINITION OF TERMS

i. Microorganism or microbe: is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye).

ii. Microbiological contamination: refers to the non-intended or accidental introduction of microbes such as bacteria, yeast, mould, fungi, virus, prions, protozoa or their toxins and by-products.

iii. Bacteriological water analysis: This is a method of analysing water to estimate the numbers of bacteria present and, if needed, to find out what causes it.

iv. Water Tank: this is a container for storing water. Water tanks are used to provide storage of water for use