Bacteriological and physicochemical analyses of well water used for drinking in Ekpoma-Edo State, Nigeria

Portable water is a key requirement for human, whether it is intended for drinking, recreational activities and other domestic purposes. It is a vital desire for all life forms. It is therefore imperative that adequate amount of portable, clean and safe water be made available to other life forms such as flora and fauna. Inadequate quantity of it results to mobility and fatality rate in rural settlements where chemical contaminants and water-based infections are endemic and persistent because of poor groundwater and surface waters quality.1 The global health importance of water quality is a concept that needs not to be neglected as quite a number of infectious diseases are contracted by water via faecal-oral mode of transmission. These infections have been reported of having a fatality rate of 5 million children annually, causing 1/6th of the world population ill.2 Water borne infections emanate from intake of untreated contaminated water by pathogenic microbes. These infections are linked with the non-availability and accessibility to clean, portable water supply in addition to unhygienic vicinity. This affects man and the biotic components of the ecosystem especially in developing countries. The following bacteria genera are often incriminated in water based infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella, Klebsiella, lyanobacteria, Proteus, Vibrio, Mycobacteria, Streptococcus faecalis e.t.c.3 Fresh water which lies below the earth crust in broken segments of rocks and soil pore spaces is considered as groundwater. It is often regarded as an ideal source of water because it is seem not to be opaque and clean. This is attributed to its passage via various layers and sediments of rocks, which act as a sort of natural filtration system. However it portability and quality can be compromise as a result of poor source protection and resource management.4 There is an increase in the spite of ground water contamination especially in urban settlements with variety of industrial activities, increase in the number of inhabitants, poor hygiene, use of land for mechanized and commercial farming and indiscriminate disposal of wastes on land.5 The presence of contaminants whether inorganic or organic in the ground water above maximum limits sets by water regulatory agencies such as WHO, EPA, NIS and FEPA may cause a serious health calamity.6 Inhabitants of developing countries unavoidably still rely on contaminated ground water due to non availability of potable water sources.7 Water apart from its domestic applications has various other aspect of use such as transportation, generation of hydro-power electricity, irrigation and aquaculture. It is a major driving force that controls the evolution and functionality of the universe on earth.8 Varieties of artificial chemicals pollutants such as insecticides, pesticides, nitrates from fertilizers, sulphates, chlorides, phenols, soap and heavy metals e.t.c are chief contributors to water contamination. Cadmium, arsenic, lead, zinc, iron, copper and manganese are severe and hazardous pollutants among the heavy metals.8 Water being a basic need for our daily living, makes it pertinent for thorough physicochemical and bacteriological investigations to be conducted on it. Therefore this study is gear towards ascertaining the well water quality used for drinking in Ekpoma, Edo State Nigeria in line with checking its conformity with standards set by water regulatory bodies such as WHO and NIS as well as to determined the likely causes of pollution in other to make valid recommendations