Examination of Pipe-Borne Water Supply from Oshogbo - Ede Water Treatment Plant to University of Ife and Neighbouring Towns for Presence of Coliforms
Abstract
Perhaps the greatest danger associated with drinking water is contamination by human excrement (Bacteriological Examination of Water Supplies (BEWS), 1970). If such excrement contains pathogenic microorganisms, then consumers of the water may become infected by the diseases caused by the pathogens. The coliforms are generally present in large numbers in human excrement and can be detected in numbers as small as one in 100ml of water (Dutka and Tobin, 1976; Baker, 1979). They are therefore the most sensitive indicators at our disposal for demonstrating the excretal contamination of water. Thus the presence of faecal coliform bacteria in a water sample indicates that intestinal pathogens may likely be present, although perhaps in a much fewer number. Thus water is considered free of pollution when it contains less than one coliform bacteria per 100ml of water (WHO, 1971).
Keywords: Bacteriological