Comparative Enumeration of Indicator Microorganisms in Two Water Sources in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State.

Abstract

Access to safe and potable water remains a major public health concern, and these water sources usually contain potential pathogenic organisms responsible for illnesses such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid fever. Hence, this study is aimed at comparing the enumeration of indicator microorganisms in well and borehole water sources in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State. Water samples were collected from Odi and Kaiama, and microbiological analyses were conducted, such as total coliform count, faecal coliform count, and microscopic examination. Total coliform counts were found in all the water sources, while the well water sample from Odi had the highest total coliform count (280 MPN/100 mL). Coliform isolates, including Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were found in the water samples, with E. coli having the highest frequency. This study, though still ongoing, reveals that the two water sources studied were contaminated by the presence of microorganisms, including indicator organisms, above the recommended levels by WHO for a domestic water source.