ABSTRACT

Assessing the physico-chemical and microbiological qualities of groundwater (borehole and well waters) were carried-out within Samaru community, Zaria, SabonGari local government, Kaduna with aimed of determining the levels of potential contaminants in groundwater. Samples were collected from five boreholes and well waters monthly for period of 6 months while analysed with appropriate procedure. The physico-chemical properties of the underground water from Samaru community during this study were within WHO and SON except for the pH, hardness and chloride above permissible standard limits for drinking water. The pH ranged from 8.43 -11.73 was recorded in well waters, chloride of 39.9 -355 mg/L and 209 -360 mg/L in well and borehole waters respectively while MPN of 0- >1800 and 0 -140 was observed in well and borehole water respectively. Microbiological quality of groundwater showed the presence of bacterial organisms such as Escherichia coli, Proteus sp. and Providencia. However, groundwater resources are commonly vulnerable to pollution, which may degrade their quality. The presence of these pathogenic and potentially pathogenic organisms in the waters and the abundance of microbial organisms indicate that water is contaminate by fecal matter. It can be a threat to common public health causing diseases such as gastro-intestinal disorders, diarrhoea and typhoid fever may affect the people who consume this water without proper treatment.

KEYWORDS

Groundwater, Phyisco-chemical, Microbiological, Well, Borehole, Pathogens

TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Adesakin Taiwo Adekanmi 2020. Assessing the Physico-chemical Properties and Microbiological Quality of Underground Waters (Hand-dug Well and Borehole Waters) in Samaru Community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Research, 1: 7-18
URL: https://www.sciworldpub.com/article-abstract?doi=37-jasr-20

1. INTRODUCTION

The amount of water on earth remain constant and it can neither be increased nor diminished but the supply of water remains constant, the demand for water is significantly increasing. Water is recognise as a fundamental right for all human beings andplay significantrole in maintaining the human health and welfare. Around 780 million people do not have access to clean water and this result in death of about 6 to 8 million people each year due to water related diseases and disasters. Therefore, water quality control is a top-priority policy agenda in many parts of the world [48]. A growing concentration of industry and an increased population density resulted in greater amounts of impurities and waste materials that reached surface waters and ground water aquifers. With the establishment of permanent settlements and increasing population, the opportunities for avoiding poor water quality became limited. Safe drinking water for human use should be free from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites, meet the standard guidelines for taste, odour, appearance and chemical concentrations and must be available in adequate quantities for domestic purposes [22]. However, inadequate sanitation and persistent faecal contamination of water resources is responsible for large percentage of people in both developed and developing countries suffering from diarrhoeal diseases. Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for approximately 2.5 million deaths annually in developing countries, affecting children younger than five years, especially those in areas devoid of access to potable water supply and sanitation [32]. Groundwater represents an important source of drinking water and constitutes the largest source of dug well water [35]. Water from these shallow and deep wells is often of better quality than surface open water sources, if the soil is fine-grained and its bedrocks do not have cracks, crevices, and bedding plants, which permit the free passage of polluted water [2]. The availability and purity of groundwater can be affected by location, construction, and operation of the wells [13]. It is assumed that natural, uncontaminated water from deep wells is clean and healthy, and this is usually true with regard to bacteriological composition [28].The potential sources of water contamination are geological conditions, industrial and agricultural activities, and water treatment plants, while the contaminants are further categorize as microorganisms, inorganics, organics, radionuclides, and disinfectants [31]. A number of scientific procedures and tools have been developed to assess the water contaminants [12] These procedures include the analysis of physical, chemical and biological quality of the water. These standards are expressed in terms of the microbiological, chemical and physical characteristics of water [30]. Many infectious diseases are associated with faecal contaminated water and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide [25]. Waterborne diseases are caused by enteric pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites that are transmitted by the faecal oral route [17,25]. Waterborne infections by these pathogenic microorganisms depends on several factors such as survival of these microorganisms in aquatic environment, the infectious dose of the microorganisms required to cause a disease in susceptible individuals, the microbiological and physico-chemical quality of the water, the presence or absence of water treatment and the weather condition in the year [25]. However, bacterial pollution of water sources may occur and is mostly derived from watershed erosion as well as drainage from sewage, swamps, or soil with a high humus content due to lack of compliance to standard guidelines guiding groundwater exploration or well construction [36]. The drinking qualities of dug well water are largely dependent on the concentration of biological, chemical, and physical contaminants as much as environmental and human activities in such respects [41]. To improve and protect the microbiological quality and to reduce the potential health risk of water from these households, intervention strategies is needed that is easy to use, effective, affordable, functional and sustainable [42].

Since, ground waters is one of the major source of drinking water in this community. Therefore, determination of the physico-chemical parameter and multanimous investigation of its microbial load of well water and borehole water will provide a better insight and valuable information on the current state of ground water in Samaru community and provide level of safety to human and other forms of life.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Study Area
The study area was located within Samaru, Zaria, Sabongari local government, Kaduna. It is located in the northern guinea savannah and the climate is characterized by well define rainy and dry season. The sampling location were Anguwan Gwaiba, Kwata, Opposite Nuga gate and Dogon ice and the coordinate of the sampling location was determined using Global Position System (GPS) (Fig. 1). Grid coordinates of sampling location was represented in Table 1. The water samples were collected once in every month for period of 6 months. The samples were collected in sterilized plastic bottles of 1000 mL capacity for physico-chemical analysis while 100 mL sampling bottles were used for microbiological analysis. Samples were collected from 5 different wells and 5 boreholes which can be categories as 3 (public wells), 2 (private wells), 4 (public boreholes) and 1 (private borehole).

Physico-chemical parameters (water temperature, pH and electrical conductivity) were measured in-situ using standard methods [6] with a mercury-in-glass thermometer for water temperature (°C). Hanna Instrument pH meter (Model H19813-6) previously calibrated with buffer solutions were used for measuring pH while conductivity was measured with a conductivity meter calibrated with potassium chloride solution. The dissolved oxygen content of the water samples were fixed on site by addition of Winkler’s A (manganous sulphate solution) and Winkler’s B (alkali-iodide) reagents to the collected sample. The samples were transported to the laboratory where they were titrated with sodium thiosulphate solution. Nitrate was determined using Brucine sulphanlic acid method [26]. Chloridewas analysed by Mohr’s titration method, spectrophoto metric method was adopted to analyse the phosphate while total hardness was also determined by the tritimetic method using a dropper to add Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) solution to the water sample.

Fig. 1.	Sampling location of boreholes and wells within Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

Table 1.	Grid coordinates of the sampling points of groundwater within Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

2.2. Microbial analysis
Preparation of Media: All laboratory rules were followed in the preparation of medium. It was ensured that all apparatus used were sterilized so to avoid contamination.

Presumptive Test: The test was carried out by inoculating three sets of five test tubes, each containing 100 mL of Mac-Conkey broth and invented Durham vials with 0.1mL, 1 mL and 10 mL of water samples each. It was ensured that no air should be trapped in the Durham vial prior to inoculation. The medium was incubate at 35 to 37°C and then, examined for gas production trapped in the Durham vials. The total bacterial count was determined by standard pour plate methods using Nutrient Agar (oxoid) [15].

Confirmatory Test: The test was carried-out by inoculating 0.1 mL, portion of the smallest inoculation that yielded a positive result in the presumptive test and introduced into plates of Eosin methylene blue agar. It was incubated over the night at 30 to 35°C before it was observed for growth of typical faecal coli form (Escherichia coli) as described by APHA [7].

Completed Test: Organism that formed dark colonies were used to inoculate lactose broth and agar slant and results were recorded.

2.3. Biochemical Test
This involved the characterization by IMVIC reaction, from the nutrient slant used in completed test.

Methyl Red Voges Proskaner Test (MRVP): The isolated organism was grown in 5mL of MRVP broth and incubated for 48 hr at 37°C, after incubation of 1 mL. The broth was transferred into a test tube and 2 drops of methyl red were added. Observation was taken to the rest of the broth in the original tube 5 drops of 3% alpha naphtel in ethanol was added, then the cap of the tube was loosened and placed in a sloping position, observation was taken and recorded.

Simmons citrate test: The isolated organism was inoculated into Simmons citrate agar slant in a bijou bottle and incubated for 24 to 72 hours, then observation were recorded.

Gram staining: Slides were cleaned with clean cotton wool; the wire loop was sterilized using the heat form Bunsen burner. After the wire loop cooled down colony was picked from the EMB culture and placed on the slide with addition of a drop of water and a smear was made. It was left to air dry before heat fixing. After cooling the slide was flooded with crystal violet and left for a minute, grams iodine was added to the slide and left for another minute. Finally, it was decolorized with clean water and then counter stained with safranin solution for minute and rinsed with water, the slide was viewed under the microscope to see the reaction.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Physico-chemical parameters
The highest water temperature recorded during this study was observed in borehole 4 ranged 27.5-29.1°C with mean value of 28.26±0.38°C while the lowest temperature value of 26.5-28.3°C (27.72±0.32 °C) and there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the mean values of borehole water temperature as presented in Table 2. The highest pH mean concentration of 6.83±0.11 was observed in borehole 5 while the lowest occurred in borehole 2 (6.0±0.07) and there was highly significant difference (p < 0.05) between the pH mean across the borehole waters. Higher concentrations of DO and total hardness were recorded at borehole 5 with mean values of 0.96±0.06 mg/L, 329±26.59 CaCO₃mg/L respectively (Table 2). The highest phosphate concentration ranged of 0.147-0.158 mg/L was observedin borehole 2 with mean value of 0.152±0.002 mg/L and lowest range of 0.101-0.135 mg/L (0.125±0.006 mg/L) was obtained in borehole 4. Highest mean concentration of chloride and nitrate (of 321±20.09 mg/L and 0.305±0.011 mg/L) was recorded in borehole 5 and there is no significant differences (p > 0.05) in mean of chloride and nitrate across all the borehole water sources. The highest electrical conductivity and TDS ranged of 980.76-1253 (1147.46±42.16 μS/cm) and 532.89-627 (594.07±16.72 mg/L) was recorded in borehole 5 and there is high significant differences in mean values across the entire borehole waters. Significantly, the mean value for total heterotrophic bacteria for all the boreholes were different from each other while the highest mean value was obtainedin borehole 4 (3.108 x 10⁶±3.316 x 10⁵CFU/mL) and the lowest occurred at borehole 1 (1.388 x 10⁷±9.118 x 10⁶CFU/mL). The mean water temperature was at peak in well 5 (27.8±0.10°C) and there was significant difference (p < 0.05) among the well waters recorded in Samaru community. The highest pH ranged of 9.01-10.73 was recorded at well 2 but the maximum pH mean of 9.93±0.12 was observed in well 5 and there was significant differences (p < 0.05) across all the well waters as showed in Table 3. Mean concentration of DO and total hardness were higher in well 2 and there was highly significant differences (p < 0.001) among the mean concentration across all the well water samples. The highest mean phosphate concentration during the period this study was recorded in well 4 with mean of 0.140±0.011 mg/L and there was high significant difference (p < 0.001) among the well water samples. The ranged for chloride and nitrate were 296-355 (322.4±12.68 mg/L) and 0.643-0.774 (0.701±0.024 mg/L) were obtained in well 1 and well 4 and there was very high significant difference (p < 0.001) between the mean values of well waters. The electrical conductivity and TDS range recorded in this study were 139.5-1178 (315.32±172.54 μS/cm) and 697.3-753 (719.81±12.16 mg/L) and there was significant difference (p < 0.001) in all the well water samples collected. The highest total heterotrophic bacteria count was recorded in well 4 with mean value of 7.920 x 10⁶± 7.668 x10⁵CFU/mL but there was highly significant differences (p < 0.05) amongthe mean values of well waters (Table 3).

The overall water temperature ranged of 26.31-29.1°C (28.2±0.57°C) was recorded in borehole water compared with well water of 26.8-28.0°C (27.8±0.29°C) while pH concentration rangewas 5.8-7.21 (6.44±0.029) for borehole and 8.43-11.73 (10.24±0.34) for well water and there was high significant difference (p <0.001) in the pH mean concentration between the borehole and well waters (Table 4). The highest overall DO range was observed in well water of 1.59-3.0 mg/L(2.52±0.49 mg/L) than borehole water of 0.25-1.1mg/L (0.80±0.29 mg/L) and there was significant difference (p < 0.001) in DO value betweenborehole and well waters. The highest overall mean Concentration for hardness, chloride and conductivity (332±23.32 CaCO₃mg/L, 317±42.40 mg/L and 999.6±163.47 μS/cm) were recorded in borehole water compared to well water of 55.2±43.95 CaCO₃mg/L, 143±120.70 mg/L and211±41.95 mg/L and there high significantdifferences (p < 0.001) between the mean of both samples. The highest mean Concentration for phosphate and TDS was recorded in borehole water while nitrate was observedin well water and there significant difference (p < 0.001) in themean of nitrate between the two samples (Table 4).

3.2. Microbial Load
A total number of three (3) bacterial organisms were identified during the period of study in borehole and well waters, which are Escherichia coli, Proteus sp. and Providencia (Table 5). Presence of E. coli was observed in borehole 1, 2 and well 1, 2, and 5 while Proteus sp. was recorded in borehole 5 only but Providencia was observed in borehole 3, 4 and well water 3 and 4 (Table 5). Borehole 2 had the highest mean total heterotrophic bacteria counts and MNP with 5.03 x 10⁶±1.23 x 10⁶and 67.45±79.56 but lowest observed in borehole 1 (5.03 x 10⁶±1.23x10⁶) as presented in Table 2. The highest total heterotrophic bacteria count was recorded in well 3 with mean value of 7.920 x 10⁶± 7.668 x10⁵CFU/mL but there was highly significant differences (p < 0.05) between the mean values of well waters (Table 3).The highest overall mean value of THBC was recorded in well waters (6526000±1737175 CFU/mL) compared with borehole water of 12320000±1770000CFU/mL while highest mean value of MNP was observed in well water (1370.8±742.88 cfu/ml and there was significant differences (p < 0.05) between the mean of MPN in both water samples. Using Indol as indicator, it showed positive for both borehole and well waters, which mean presence of bacteria organism while for Methyl red (MR) was positive for all water sample except for borehole 5 which show negative but using Vogesproskaner (VP) it shows negative for all water sample (Table 5). Citrate (CT) showed borehole (1 and 2) and well (1 and 2) show negative while the other stations indicate positive (Table 5).

A principal component analysis (PCA) is a techniques used for identification of a smaller number of uncorrelated of variables from a larger set of data. It is also used to eliminate the number of variables or when there are, too many predictors compared to number of observation or to avoid multi collinearity. The eigen values recorded during this study from borehole, well waters in Samaru community were greater than one, and it showed the contribution of each physico-chemical parameters and their correlation between them. In borehole 1, the first component, which accounted for 73.63% of the total variance, showed strong positive correlation between pH, TDS, temperature, hardness, MNP and nitrate but there was negative correlation between DO, Phosphate, chloride, conductivity and THBC (Table 6). The second component contributed to Nitrate, conductivity, pH, DO, phosphate, chloride and TDS elucidating 26.37% of the total variance. The first component in borehole 2, which contributed for 88.66% of the total variance, was associated with temperature, DO, Hardness, phosphate, chloride, nitrate and THBC. The first component accounted for 68.14% of the total variance that showed a closed relationship between hardness, phosphate, chloride, nitrate, conductivity, MNP and TDS in borehole 3. The first component account for 57.25% of the total variance showed association between water temperature, pH, DO, Hardness, chloride, conductivity, TDS, THBC and MNP in borehole 4 while DO, hardness, conductivity and TDS account for 72.21 % of total variance in borehole 5 (Table 5). In well 1, the first component accounted for 64.29% of the total variance, showed strong positive correlation between water temperature, phosphate, chloride, nitrate, electrical conductivity, TDS and THBC (Table 7). The second component contributed to pH, DO, Chloride nitrate, electrical conductivity TDS and THBC elucidating 26.37% of the total variance but there was negative correlation between water temperature, phosphate and hardness. The first component for well 2 recorded 85.48 % of the total variance, was associated with pH, phosphate, nitrate, TDS and THBC. The first component accounted for 75.82% of the total variance that showed a closed relationship between pH, DO, phosphate, nitrate, conductivity, TDS, THBC and MNP for well 3. Water temperature, pH, DO, phosphate, chloride, TDS and THBC accounted for 51.59% of the total variances in well 4 while 59.37% of total variance was recorded for water temperature, DO, phosphate, chloride, conductivity, TDS and THBC in well 5. Figure 2 showed that well 2, well 4 and well5 are closely related to each other compared with well 3 is related to them but well 1 is unrelated to other well waters but parameters such as DO, nitrate, pH are correlated with well 3 and well 1 while MPN correlated with well 2, 4 and 5. TDS, chloride, phosphate and water temperature are associated with Borehole 4, and borehole 5 but closed related to borehole 2 while parameters like electrical conductivity, hardness and THBC are close related to borehole 1 and 3. However, the cluster analysis performed to explore the grouping of the ground water, as depicted by a dendrogram (Fig. 3), revealed two major clusters. Cluster 1 showed that well 1 is related to borehole 2 and closely correlated with well 4, well 5, well 3 and forming a clustered with borehole 1 and 3 but related with well 1, whereas Cluster 2 comprised of borehole 4 and 5 (Fig. 3).

4. DISCUSSION

The study was aimed to investigated the physico-chemical quality and the microbial load of groundwater (hand-dug well and borehole waters) in Samaru, Zaria, North central Nigeria.

Table 2.	Descriptive statistical analysis of physico-chemical parameters and microbial load in borehole waters of Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria
***very high significant (p < 0.001), ** Highly significant (p < 0.01)

Table 3.	Descriptive statistical analysis of physico-chemical parameters and microbial load in well waters of Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

Table 4.	Overall Descriptive Statistic of Physico-chemical Parameters and Microbial Load of Borehole and Well Water
***very high significant (p < 0.001), ** Highly significant (p < 0.01)

Table 5.	Bacteria organisms isolated from borehole and well water samples of Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria
IND- Indol, MR- Methyl red, VP- Vogesproskaner, CT- Citrate

Table 6.	Principal Analysis component of physico-chemical parameters and microbial load in borehole waters of Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

Table 7.	Principal Analysis component of physico-chemical parameters and microbial load in well waters of Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

Frequency monitoring of underground water quality is required often in term of physico-chemical properties and microbiological quality because many factors affect and control the chemistry and quality of aquifer water. These factors include the origin of water, the geology of that area, topography and anthropogenic activities. The mean water temperature ranged recorded in borehole and well waters were 27.0±0.26°C to 27.8±0.10°C and 27.2±0.36°C to 28.26±0.38°C across all the stations. The overall water temperature ranged of 26.3 -29.1°C and 26.8 -28.0°C were recorded in boreholes and well waters from Samaru community maybe due to effects of some environmental factors such as climatic condition or temperature of the geographical area, geology and season could be responsible for the high water temperature recorded during this study. Temperature is one of the most important abiotic factors that controls all metabolic and physiological activities ofalllivingorganisms and affect non-living components of the environment, thereby affecting organisms and their functioning of an ecosystem. The overall mean value of water temperature recorded for borehole and well waters were within the range reported by Chukwu [11], Obi and Okocha [33] and Onwughara et al. [38]. High water temperature enhances the growth of microorganisms while cool water is consider to be good for drinking purposes. The overall pH values ranged recorded for borehole water varied between 5.8-7.21 which is fall below 6.5-8.5 of WHO stipulated limits for drinking water while well water ranged from 8.43-11.73 is above WHO recommended.

Fig. 2.	Relationship between physico-chemical parameters and microbial load of groundwater in Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

Fig. 3.	Relationship between physico-chemical parameters and microbial load of groundwater in Samaru community, Zaria, Northcentral Nigeria

The average pH values ranged observed in water samples from borehole (6.0±0.07 to 6.83±0.11) fall below WHO standard while (9.12 ±0.29 to 10.15 ±0.14) well waters is above the standard. The pH concentration recorded in water samples could be as a result of type of soil and free carbon (IV) oxide level and fluctuations in optimum pH ranges may result in increase or decrease in the toxicity of poisons in water bodies. The pH less than 6.5 revealed that the water is acidic in nature which cause gastro in test in a lirritation [20] and require alkaline treatment in order to improve their pH to the acceptable range of 6.5–8.5 [46,47]. Sojobi et al. [43] attributed the acidic nature to the geological formation of the area. Acid water tends to be corrosive to plumbing and faucets, particularly, if the pH is below 6. The finding agreed with the results of Ogbonna et al., [34] for various groundwater samples. The importance of the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of water is evident in the manner it affects the chemical reactions and biological systems [23].

Dissolved oxygen is one of the most important parameters of water give direct or indirect information such as nutrient availability, the level of pollution, metabolic activities of microorganisms, stratification, and photosynthesis can be deduced from its correlation with water body [39]. The overall average DO values obtained for both borehole (0.80±0.29 mg/L) and well waters (2.52±0.49 mg/L) are within permissible limits by WHO and SON. The average DO values ranged of 1.67 ± 0.02 to 2.85 ±0.06 was observed in well waters and 0.51 ± 0.13 to 0.96 ± 0.06 was obtained in borehole waters. The low DO concentration recorded in borehole could be due to depth and the oxygen in the air could not mixed or dissolved in groundwater. Dissolved oxygen is of great significance to all living organisms; its presence in water bodies can result from direct diffusion from air or production by autotrophs through photosynthesis [9]. The finding is contradict to Kolawole and Afolayan [24] who reported the DO value means ranged from 7.04±0.4 mg/L to 9.81±0.31 mg/L in various well water in Ilorin north central Nigeria.

The overall total hardness mean concentration recorded for borehole and well waters (332.60±23.23 CaCO₃mg/L and 55.2±43.95 CaCO₃mg/L)were within WHO and SON standards for potable water. The average total hardness values ranged of 37.78±6.23 to 124.83±1.66 was observed in well waters and 297.5±2.79 to 329±26.59 was obtained in borehole waters. Based on this ranged well water may classified (75 to 150 CaCO₃mg/L) as moderately hard while borehole water can be classified (>300 CaCO₃ mg/L) as hard water [29]. The total hardness concentration range recorded during this study for both water samples may be as a result of soil composition of this area since the major elements contribution to hardness is caused by the sum of the alkali earth metals elements although the major constituents are calcium and magnesium and lack of casting of the wall of groundwater bodies. Hardness was associated with the additional soap required to create cleaning action in a hard water to its low foaming ability. The deposition of calcium and magnesium salts in water increases the hardness of water hence the pollution of the waters [9]. It can caused kidney diseases if the hardness of water is too high due to high content of calcium and magnesium in it. The overall mean phosphate concentration recorded during this study for borehole and well waters were within stipulated permissible limits of WHO and SON. The lower phosphate concentration observed during the period of study could be due the geology of this area, no seepage link with this ground water. The result obtained differ from the report by many researchers [19,43,45] who recorded high concentration phosphate concentration in various ground water was attributed the sources to organic decomposition, domestic effluent, and sewage and fertilizer.

The overall mean concentration of chloride obtained in borehole water is higher WHO and SON standard for drinking water compared with well waters which lower and within standard drinking water limits. The average chloride concentration ranged of 47.96 ± 3.14 to 322.4 ±12.68 was observed in well waters and 237 ±7.46 to 314.4 ±10.95 was obtained in borehole waters. The higher values of chloride ions observed maybe due to uses of chlorine in treating this groundwater to meet consumable standards or contributing factors maybe as result of the soil type of this area. Excess chlorides may demonstrate an adverse physiological effect when present in concentrations greater than 250 mg/L and with people who are not acclimated.The ranged of nitrate concentration recorded for both water source samples were within permissible limits by WHO and SON [46,47] for potable water. Nitrates can be convert in the human digestive tract by certain bacteria to nitrites and nitrites react with haemoglobin, forming methemoglobin that will not take up oxygen. Laboured breathing and occasional suffocation result most severely in human infants and may react with creatinine forming nitrosacrosine causing carcinogenic [20,40]. High nitrate concentration >3mg/L is usually associated with anthropogenic pollution sources such as poor septicsy stems and poor disposal of domestic waste waters [21]. Nitrate element is one of the major nutrients to ascertain the level of anthropogenic pollution in aquatic environment. It can be removed from under ground water by Pur Purifier method which account for about 92.3% removal efficiency while nano-sized magnetite removed between the ranged of 67.3 to 79.1% or combination of nano-filtration and reverse osmosis [10,14,18,44].

The overall mean value of electrical conductivity recorded during this period for borehole water was significantly higher than well water is within permissible limits for drinking water by WHO. The average electrical conductivity values ranged of 183.53 ± 7.37 μS/cm to 315± 172.54 μS/cm was observed in well waters and 746.98± 19.198μS/cm to 1147.46±42.16μS/cm was obtained in borehole waters. The chemical character of the water modified by ion exchange reaction during percolation of water and other anthropogenic influence. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) represents the percentage of inorganic substances present in water [37]. The overall mean concentration of TDS recorded for borehole and well waterfall within between WHO and SON standard for drinking water. High total dissolved solids gives offensive taste or odour to water [8].

The Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THBC) in borehole and well water samples in this study ranged from 1.663x10⁶ to 4.4x10⁵CFU/mL and 1.24x10⁵ to 9.80x10⁵ while MNP ranged from 0 to 140 Cfu/mL in borehole and 0->1800 in well water. The amount of THBC and MPN recorded in this study exceeded the limit set by WHO. Escherichia coli, Proteus sp. and Providencia are bacterial organisms identified during the period of study in borehole and well waters of Samaru community. The presences of these bacteria in drinking water is unacceptable from the public health point of view because such organisms could be pathogenic. Water supplies contaminated with human and animal faeces are capable of transmitting a large number of infectious diseases [5]. It has been observed that the coliform group and the pathogenic enteric bacteria have survival rates of the same order of magnitude under similar environmental conditions of temperature, pH, disinfection, or extended exposure to soil or to fresh, polluted, or salt waters. Another reason why coliform bacteria indicators have been so popular throughout years is the extreme abundance of the bacteria in humans feces, estimated to be an average of 1.95 billion bacteria per person per day [16]. The bacteriological analysis results showed that all water samples were not fit for human consumption (drinking) as they fail to meet standards WHO [47]. The coliforms, the primary bacterial indicator for fecal pollution in water were detect in all the water samples. Coliforms are the most abundant bacteria in water responsible for water-borne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea and have also been implicated in mortality across the world [48]. The extremely high bacterial load and coliform count in borehole and well waters were far above the values recommended by the WHO for drinking water (1×10²CFU/mL) for the total heterotrophic count and zero coliform count); therefore drinking from any of their underground water used for this study will lead to serious health conditions. These results obtained is similar with other studies across Nigeria which showed the presence of coliforms in most potable water sources [1,3,4,27]. Coliform group and other pathogenic enteric bacteria have survival rates of the same order of magnitude under similar environmental conditions of temperature, pH, disinfection, or extended exposure to soil or to fresh, polluted, or salt waters. Coliform bacteria indicators have been so popular throughout the years is the extreme abundance of these bacteria inn human feces or warm-blooded animals feces, soils, and possibly other sources. There was significant relationship between hardness, conductivity, THBC and MNP. Therefore, it can be deduced that the geological formation in the study area seems to be similar but the micro biological characteristics of the aquifer where each borehole and well were located tend to be different subject to ease of contamination. This implies that owners of wells and boreholes should ensure they are located professionally constructed and located in an environment that offers maximum protection from exogenous, anthropogenic potential sources of contamination.

5. CONCLUSION

The physico-chemical properties of the underground water from Samaru comunity during this study were within WHO and SON except for the pH, hardness and chloride above permissible standard limits for drinking water. Microbiological quality of groundwater showed the presence of bacteria organisms such as Escherichia coli, Proteus sp. and Providencia. The abundance of microbial organisms in the present study indicate that the water is contaminat by fecal matter and can cause health concerned such as diseases like gastro-intestinal disorders, diarrhoea and typhoid fever may emanate for people consume this water without treating it.

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