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Studies on microbial quality of filtered water in households of a university community in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

D. A. Alabi  and
A. A. Adesiyun
D. A. Alabi
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
A. A. Adesiyun
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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Summary

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Water samples from home filters in nine residential areas of a Nigerian university community were studied. The membrane filter technique was used to determine the total coliform and faecal coliform counts/100 ml of water. Most of the 100 samples studied were grossly contaminated with total coliform counts/100 ml ranging from 0–442, faecal coliform counts/100 ml, 0–216 and the total aerobic plate count per millilitre ranged from 3·0 × 103 to 1·9 × 109 c.f.u. The source (dams) of water, fitness of filter candles, frequency of cleaning candles and pH of water did not significantly (P > 0·05; X2) affect the microbial quality of either filtered boiled or unboiled tap water.

Escherichia coli type I was isolated from 17·9% of the faccal coliforms tested but from only 2·3% of total coliforms. Enterobacter aerogenes was most predominant (38·5%) amongst faecal coliforms isolated while Enterobacter cloacae was the most frequent (37·2%) of the total coliform isolates.

The gross contamination of filltered water from all households sampled calls fpr am englightenment of residents on the proper use of home water filters.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 96 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 239 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

References

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