Microbiological Quality of Water in Fulani Settlements in Gidan Kwano, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the microbiological quality of drinking water sources in Fulani settlements in GidanKwano, Minna, Niger state. Thirty water samples were collected from streams, wells and taps and examined for Total coliform and Total viable counts (TVC) using the multiple tube fermentation tests and the pour plate technique respectively. Isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests. All the water sources were found to contain coliforms in numbers exceeding the SON standards for water. The total viable counts for all the water sources also exceeded the limit; 100 cfu/ml for water. Most Probable Number of coliforms ranged from 3 MPN/100ml to 1100 MPN/100ml. All water sources were contaminated the following bacterial pathogens Citrobacterdiversus, Citrobacterfreundii, Klebsiellapnuemoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella enteric and Serratiamarcescens. The study revealed a contamination of all water sources in the study area. It is therefore suggested that Hygiene practices should be improved so as to reduce contamination by microbial flora