COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PIPEBORNE WATER AND OTHER SOURCES OF WATER WITHIN ENUGU METROPOLIS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

ABSTRACT

Comparative examination of three main sources of water supply in Independence layout Enugu was carried out with a view to determine their levels of contamination of bacteria. The sources of water examined are tap water, well water and stream water. The pour plate method was used to examine the water samples. Bacteria isolated from the water samples include coliforms especially Escherichia coli. Stream water and well water were found to contain bacterial isolates unlike the tap water that has none.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Following the theory of creation, it is clear that water is as old as man. From time immemorial, man has restorted to the use of this unique commodity for domestic and other purposes. Most of our water supplies are from surface water which include: rivers, streams, lakes, oceans and seas and there water bodies are likely to be polluted with domestic and Industrial as well as agriculture waste, As populations increase, the problem become more serious and as such, water can endanger the health and life of human beings because when polluted by fecal materials it becomes potential carrier of pathogenic organism Carpenter, 1977. Water, is of course, absolutely essential to life, not only human life but all life, animal and vegetable. Most of the biochemical reaction that occur in metabolism and growth of living cells involved water, and all take places in water. Camp et al,1974.

Water born disease are those disease which have water as their vehicle of transmission these disease are capable of destroying a whole community if not checked. Therefore, the quickest ways to prevent out break of these disease and to determine the portability of such water sources is to determine the microbial load or content if the microbial content is nor within acceptable limit, such water sources should be condemned immediately Fair et al, 1970.

1.1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

I. To find out if well, stream, Tap water coutain pathogens.

II. To help the public to know the danger of drinking these water without adequate treatment.

III. To compare the microbial load of the water source and advice on safer source of water .

1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

These source of water are contaminated through one way or the other i The short falls in the distribution of treated pipe borne water leads people to resort to alternative source of water which may be unfit for human consumption

ii Tap water can be polluted through leakages/ improper plumbing.

iii Well water is contaminated as a result of running off into it, especially shallow well.

iv Streams can be contaminated through waste from industries, leaves, dust, and rain run often.

1.3. SIGNIFICANTS OF STUDY

1 The study will advice on water meet the standard quality required for any particular purpose

2 Also advice the eswc on quality of their product. For future nature modification of treatment methods

1.4. LIMITATION

Fewer sample were worked on because of lack of fund, the survey is however limited to the bacteria flora of waters, and not all organisms even on bacterial flora specification, the number of sample culture were limited by lack of funds and culture media is expensive.