Bacteriological Quality Assessment of Drinking water in Amassoma Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

The study was conducted to assess the quality of drinking water sources in the
Amassoma community to determine if there are any safe options for drinking.
The availability and quality of drinking water are crucial human rights concerns.
The findings show that wells, rivers, and tap water are all heavily contaminated
with bacteria. Total coliform concentration (TCC) ranged from 5.1 × 10¹
CFU/mL in the River Up Water to 4.45 × 10² CFU/mL in Tap 2, which is way
above the WHO’s safe limit of zero coliform bacteria per 100 ml of drinking
water. The well water showed moderate contamination levels, with TCCs
between 6.8 × 10¹ and 9.3 × 10¹ CFU/mL. Tap water sources, on the other hand,
were significantly contaminated. Several microorganisms were identified from
the collected samples, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Vibrio cholerae, the latter being
responsible for cholera infections. The presence of E. coli and other coliforms
indicates fecal contamination, while the detection of V. cholerae in the river
raises the alarm for a potential cholera outbreak among residents. These findings are in line with previous
research conducted on water source contamination in Bayelsa State and across Nigeria, which has found high
levels of bacteria in water supplies. The health risks linked to these findings include the possibility of cholera,
typhoid fever, and other waterborne illnesses, especially during the rainy season when flooding increases. To
mitigate these issues, interventions like point-of-use water treatment methods (such as boiling, chlorination, and
filtration) and improvements in sanitation infrastructure were recommended. In conclusion, the bacteriological
quality of Amassoma’s water sources poses a serious risk to the health of its residents.