Abstract

Water void of microbial contaminants is said to be safe for drinking as the chances of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal diseases transmitted by water is limited. The microbial assessment of Bonny drinking water sources was evaluated to determine the sources of ongoing outbreaks of typhoid and diarrhea in Bonny. Water samples were collected from taps of Kiosks located in four communities within the Local Government Area. The communities included: Bypass water kiosk, Akiama water Kiosk, Oguede water kiosk, and Shell water tap. These tap waters are known to be supplied by two sources: Bonny Utility Company and the Shell Water. The microbiological parameters were analysed using standard microbiological methods. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 4.8±0.7×10⁴ to 4.0×10⁵ CFU/mL, while the fungal counts ranged from 0.81±0.8×10³ to 1.8±0.8SFU/mL. The coliform and faecal coliform counts were 0. The total heterotrophic bacterial load of the Akiama water kiosk was significantly (P<0.05) higher than counts of the other kiosk water samples. Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp and Pseudomonas sp were isolated from the water samples. Salmonella thyphi which is the causative agent of thyphoid fever was not isolated during the study. The fungal isolates associated with the water samples included Penicillium, Mucor, Aspergillus niger and Candida sp. Despite the high THB counts, the absence of faecal coliform and total coliform implied that the water could be safe for drinking and treatment measures to eliminate fungal isolates is highly recommended.