Abstract

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This research work was therefore carried out to assess the effect of different containers on the quality of different water samples and the effect of long storage time on the bacterial load (bioload) of the water samples. Spread plate count technique was adopted using Nutrient, Salmonella/Shigella, MacConkey and Thiosulphite Citrate bile sucrose agar. Calabash, Glass, Metal and Plastic containers were used in the storage of rainwater, river water and tap water. In rain water stored in calabash, the total heterotrophic bioload decreased from 9.21ogcfu/ml to 5.31ogcfu/ml. For the river water stored in glass container, the bioload decreased from 7.01ogcfu/ml to 5.01ogcfu/ml. In other containers, there were such decreases. Several factors were noticed to be responsible for the bioload changes. The factors include; the toxins and acids produced as secondary metabolites during the stationary phase, temperature variation, nutrient depletion, and pH. Plastic container recorded the highest bioload decrease. People are advised to use plastic containers for water storage and they should filter the water before using so as to remove the biofilms formed at the wall of the containers due to death of bacteria when toxins are produced and nutrient depleted.

Keywords: Bioload, bacteriological, biofilms, metabolites, nutrient, coliform.