This document summarizes a study that assessed the bacteriological profile of borehole water from nine student hostels in relation to sewage disposal units. Water samples were tested for total bacteria counts and fecal coliform counts. Higher counts were found in samples from hostels closer to sewage units and from older boreholes. Bacteria isolated included E. coli, Klebsiella, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Vibrio cholerae. Total bacteria counts correlated with fecal coliform counts and negatively correlated with distance from sewage units. The study concludes that boreholes should be farther from sewage units and older boreholes require treatment to improve water quality.

1. Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of Borehole Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in Students' Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket
++IJPHER
Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of Borehole
Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in Students'
Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket
Mbong, E. O1*, Adams, E. G2., Edem, E. N3, Asuquo, C.N4
1,2,Department of Environmental Biology, Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udoata, Eket, Nigeria
3Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria
4Department of Microbiology, Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udoata, Eket, Nigeria
Borehole water is a major water source in some parts of the world and human health depends
largely on the quality of water consumed. Hence, bacteriological assessment of borehole water
in relation to distance and age of septic tanks in nine student’s hostels in Ikot Udota was
investigated using standard scientific methods. The organisms isolated were: Escherichia coli,
Klebsiella spp, Bacillus spp Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus spp, Enterobacter spp, Salmonella
typhi, Vibrio cholerae, and Proteus vulgaris. The result revealed that the total bacteria counts of
the samples ranged from 30cfu/ml in Ario house, 246 cfu/ml in Macdone. However, Macdone’s
lodge had the highest faecal coliform count with 2 (66.6%), while Anthonys’ had the lowest faecal
coliform count with 1 (33.3%). Correlation analysis signaled that there is a significant (p<0.05)
likelihood that contaminants enrichment grossly emanated from a point source seeing that 72.2%
of TBC and 73.5% of FCC were associated with short distances from septic tanks. Also, 28.5% of
TBC and 15.4% of FCC were associated with borehole age. Conclusively, boreholes should be
situated far from refuse/sewage disposal units and routine treatment of old borehole water
sources is a necessity.
Keywords: Borehole, Bacteriological, Ikot Udoata
INTRODUCTION
Water is essential to the life of all living organisms
including microorganisms. It plays an important role in the
structure and function of the human body and remains a
medium for biological and chemical processes in all living
things. It constitutes about 70% of the body weight of every
healthy adult (Sotade, 2003).To have safe drinking water
is a human right and need for every man, woman and child,
having good water also is essential in breaking the cycle
of poverty since it improves people’s health, strength to
work and ability to function, yet over 884 million people
around the world live without safe drinking water
(WHO,2008).
The health of the people depends solely on the quality of
water available for consumption. Water pollution as a
result of microbial contaminant and pollutants has resulted
in epidemics of water borne diseases such as typhoid
fever, cholera, dysentery, Salmonellosis and diarrhoea
(Reeves et al., 1989) these may present symptoms like
nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, low grade fevers
which begin from two to ten days after drinking the
contaminated water (Reeves et al., 1989).water borne
disease can be cause by protozoa, viruses, or bacteria
(WHO, 2000).
Coliform bacteria are known bacteria indicator of water
pollution which are present in the faeces of all warm –
blooded animals and humans (Howard et al, 2002). Their
presence in drinking water indicates that disease- causing
organisms could be in water system and may pose an
immediate health risk in the water (Tebutt, 2007).
*Corresponding Author: Emem O. Mbong, Department
of Environmental Biology, Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot
Udoata, Eket, Nigeria.
E-mail: ekomedem@gmail.com
Research Article
Vol. 6(1), pp. 147-151, June, 2020. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 1406-089X
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Research

2. Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of Borehole Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in Students' Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket
Mbong et al. 148
According to World Health Organization Standards and
guidelines, borehole should be sunk 150ft below the
ground level, and should be situated far and opposite from
refuse disposal and sewage disposal units (WHO, 1996).
This is because contaminants can enter water bodies
through variety of ways, these includes discharges from
sewage works and industrial plants at identifiable point
sources, continuous leaching from surrounding ground
water entering the system, deposition from the air,
deliberate oil spillage or dumping and release from dead
or decaying aquatic flora or fauna. Some microorganisms
which are mostly found in surface water which could cause
human health problems includes; Cryptosporodium
pavum, Gardia lambia, Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp.,
Streptococcus spp., parasitic worms (helminths), and
viruses (Olawuyi,2006). For pathogens transmitted by the
faecal-oral route, drinking water is the only one vehicle of
transmission, contamination of foods, hands, utensils and
clothing can play a role when domestic sanitation and
hygiene are poor. Improvements in the quality and
availability of water in excreta disposal in general hygiene
are all important in reducing faecal oral-route disease
transmission (Amyes, 2007).
Contamination of water bodies has increasingly become
an issue of serious environmental concern particularly
when coliform and other bacteria are found. Hence, there
is need for periodic assessment of microbiological quality
of water in line with World Health Organization standards
(Edema and Omemu,2001). This study will create
awareness within and outside the school community on
the quality of borehole water available to student in hostels
which may serve as a baseline data and basis for further
public health recommendations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in lkot Udota, Eket Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State which is located
between Latitude 4.6423N and 4o3832N and Longitude
7.9244 and 7o 5528E with an estimated population of
172,557. The climate falls within the tropical zone where in
its dominant vegetation is the green foliage of trees and
shrub as well as oil palm tree belt. Eket has two distinct
seasons: The wet and dry seasons the driest months are
January and the mean average rainfall is 3119mm.Their
major and easily accessible source of drinking water is
borehole.
Nine (9) borehole water samples were collected from
student’s hotels in Ikot Udota into a sterile bottle and
covered with ice packs. Then the samples were
transferred with ice bags within two hours to the laboratory
for analysis. However, each sample was labeled with the
hostel name and was mixed thoroughly.
Inoculation and Incubation
Total viable count of Bacteria was determined by
enumerating the colony forming unit (cfu/ml)
byspreadplating,15to 20ml of the sterilized nutrient agar
media was aseptically dispensed into sterile Petri dishes
and was allowed to solidify. 0.1ml of the diluted sample
was pipette from 10-3 test tube on to the surface of the
solidified media and a sterile hockey stick was used to
spread the sample evenly on the solidified agar plate and
the plate was wrapped with a foil paper and incubated at
37oc for 24 hours (Chesbrough,2006). Controls were made
for each sample by pipetting 0.1ml from each sample onto
a nutrient agar plate for each sample and incubated at 37oc
for 24 hours.
Purification and Maintenance of Media
At the end of the incubation period, the plate was observed
for growth. The population of the bacterial isolates was
estimated by counting the number of discrete colonies in
the plates. Morphological and cultural characteristics was
observed according to Bergeys’ (2005) manual.
Total Bacteria counts
The total bacteria counts were determined by spread plate
technique using Standard Methods (APHA, 1985). Nutrient
agar medium was used for the enumeration of bacteria in
the samples.
Faecal coliform counts
The faecal coliform counts were determined using Eosin
methylene blue medium, using spread plaiting technique
using Standard Methods (APHA, 1998). Organisms with
greenish metallic sheen were taken for positive
Escherichia coli and was confirmed by lactose
fermentation after incubation at 45oc for 24- 48 hours.
Statistical Analysis
The occurrence of bacteria in (TBC and TCC) in each
hostel is expressed as a percentage of the total bacteria
counts and faecal coliform counts. The relationship
between the occurrence of bacteria and predisposing
factors proximity to septic tank and borehole age are
establish by multiple correlation analysis using Statistical
Package for Several Sciences(SPSS:vision22).
RESULTS
The bacteriological quality of water in relation to septic tank
in student’s hostels in lkot Udota is presented in table 1. It
revealed that the total bacteria counted ranged from 30
cfu/100ml in Arioupto246 cfu /100ml in Macdone. Also,
Anthony’s lodge had 1 (33.3%) cfu/100mlfaecal coliform
count, while Macdone had 2 (66.6%) cfu/100ml faecal
coliform counts. Similarly, the three years old Macdone
lodge recorded the highest bacterial and faecal coliform
counts of 246 cfu/100ml and 2 cfu/ 100ml respectively.

3. Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of Borehole Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in Students' Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket
Int. J. Public Health Epidemiol. Res. 149
Table 1: Bacteriological Profile of Borehole water in Relation to Septic Tank Vicinity in Student’s Hostels in Ikot Udota
Sample source Total bacteria count
(cfu/100ml)
Faecal coliform counts
(cfu/100ml)
distance from
septic tank (m)
Age of borehole
Adventures’ Lodge 168(11.89%) 0(0. 0%) 16.90 7 years
All Stars Lodge 198(14.01%) 0(0.0%) 21.10 7 years
Anthonys’ Lodge 240(16.98%) 1(33.3%) 11.70 8 years
Arios’ House 30(2.12%) 0 (0.0 %) 32.00 8 months
Beulahs’ Lodge 80(5.66%) 0 (0.0%) 28.40 1 year
Edopets’ Lodge 125(8.85%) 0 (0.0%) 22.80 2 years
Ekpeyongs’ Lodge 170(12.03%) 0 (0.0%) 12.00 2 years
Grace Court 156(11.04%) 0 (0.0%) 28.50 4 years
Macdones’ Lodge 246(17.50%) 2(66.6%) 4.90 3 years
WHO Standard 100 0 30
The morphology and biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolates are presented in table 2. The isolates identified
were:Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp. Bacillus spp. Streptococcusspp, Enterobacter spp. Salmonella typhimurium,
vibrio cholera, Klebsiella, and Proteus vulgaris.
Table 2: Morphology and biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolated from student’s Hostels in Ikot Udota
Isolate Gram’s Shape Motility Indole Mr Vp Citrate Maltose Lactose Sucrose Fructose Probable
organism
1 + Short
rod
+ + + - - AG AG A AG Escherichia coli
2 - Rod - + + - - AG AG AG - Klebsiella spp.
3 + Rod + - - + + AG AG AG AG Bacillus spp.
4 + Rod + - - - - - - - AG Pseudomonas
spp.
5 - Cocci in
chains
- - + _ + AG AG AG AG Streptococcus
spp.
6 - Rod - - - + + AG AG AG AG Enterobacter
spp.
7 - Rod + - + - + AG AG - - Salmonella spp.
8 - Rod + - - + - - AG - AG Vibrio cholera
9 - Rod + + + + - AG AG AG - Proteus
vulgaris
Keys
+ = Positive - = Negative
MR =Methyl Red, VP = Voges Proskeur.
A =Acid Production AG = Acid and Gas Production.
Table 3 relates the numeric distribution of bacteria (TBC
and FCC) in borehole water samples to prevailing factors
such as distance from septic tank (Distance) and age of
boreholes. TBC correlated strongly and positively with
FCC(r= 0.691*). However, both TCC and FCC correlated
significantly but negatively with distance from septic tanks
(r = - 0.772* and – 0.735* respectively).
Table 3: Relationship Between the Bacteria (TBC and
FCC) and Predisposing Factors.
TBC FCC DISTANCE AGE
TBC 1
FCC 0.691* 1
DISTANCE - 0.772* -0.735* 1
AGE 0.285 0.154 -0.387 1
*significant at p< 0.05
DISCUSSION
The use of microorganisms as water quality indicator is
well established (Grabow, 1996; WHO, 1993). The total
bacteria count and faecal coliform counts were above the
WHO Recommended standard limits (table 1). Their
presence in water sample may be attributed to
contamination due to proximity to septic tanks, age of the
boreholes, wastes water seepage, etc.
Again, the microorganisms isolated in this study include;
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. Bacillus spp.
Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus spp, Enterobacter spp,
Salmonella spp, Vibrio cholera. Proteus vulgaris. This was
expected (Anyanwu and Okoli, 2013: Okonko et al., 2008).
Okonko et al., 2008 isolated and identified Staphylococcus
aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp,
Enterobacter, Proteus vulgaris, and Klebsiella in different

4. Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of Borehole Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in Students' Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket
Mbong et al. 150
water samples used for domestic purposes. A similar trend
was also recorded by Agwu et al., (2013). The isolation of
Pseudomonas spp, and Salmonella typhi in borehole
water is a major source of concern, this is because
Pseudomonas which is a Gram-negative rod shaped
bacteria, is a serious opportunist with an infectious
potential on human host with compromised immunity.
Similarly, Salmonella typhi is also a strong pathogen that
causes systemic infections such as typhoid fever in
humans. Its presence in borehole water may be related to
the incidences of typhoid amongst other infection in the
area. Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter, Escherichia coli are
faecal coliform bacteria and are considered as specific
indicator of the presence of faeces(Maier et al., 2000).
Escherichia coli had been named a preferred indicator of
faecal pollution (Edbery et al.,2000). Hence, the presence
of enteric organisms underscores the contamination of the
underground water bed with substantial amount of oxygen
demand waste (WHO, 1996).
According to Ubom (2003), correlation analysis is a
measure of the association between two parameters or
variables. Hence its applicability in relating biotic
occurrences with abiotic factors in this research is well
fitted. The positive significant coefficient obtained between
FCC and TBC confirms that both parameters share a
similar source of enrichment and so both parameters
increase together (Mbong et al., 2013: Moses, Etuk and
Udosen (2015).
On the contrary, significant negative coefficient obtained
between the TBC and abiotic factors distance signals that
higher or rapid bacterial contamination of the borehole
water samples is associated with short distances away
from septic tanks. Similarly, the relationship between TBC
and age of boreholes is an indication of poor treatment of
the boreholes.
CONCLUSION
The water samples assessed were of poor bacteriological
quality. Most of them were contaminated with pathogens
which pose serious risk to unsuspecting consumers. The
values for total bacteria count and total coliform counts
were beyond the WHO permissible limit.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon the findings of this research:
1. There is an urgent need to evaluate the bacteria profile
of all the boreholes in lkotUdota.
2. Also, routine treatment of hostels’ boreholes should be
made mandatory.
3. Aggressive awareness should be created by
Government Agencies on the effects of sitting
boreholes close to sewage disposal units.
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Accepted 19 June 2020
Citation: Mbong EO, Adams EG, Edem EN, Asuquo CN
(2020). Biometric Assessment of Bacteriological Profile of
Borehole Water in Relation to Sewage Disposal Units in
Students' Hostels in Ikot Udota, Eket. International Journal
of Public Health and Epidemiology Research, 6(1): 147-
151.
Copyright: © 2020 Mbong et al. This is an open-access
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Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.