Abstract:
The quality of drinking water has always been a major health concern, especially in developing
countries, where 80% of the disease cases are attributed to inadequate sanitation and use of
polluted water. Water becomes contaminated with faecal material due to inadequate protection
of the source, unhygienic practices and poor household handling practices. This study aimed at
examining bacteriological quality of spring water in Gimbichu District, Hadiya Zone, Central
Ethiopia. A total of 30 water samples were examined from ten spring water sources. A cross
sectional survey and bacteriological analysis of 30water samples were conducted in completed
within month. Membrane filtration were used enumeration ofbacteria(TC,FCand FS. Data were
analyzed using SPSS v20 and Microsoft Excel 2010. This study found that, the highest mean
coliformsbacteria counts were observed at spring site 5: 280.3±20.8 /ml total coliforms,
213.3±102.6/ml fecal coliforms and 166.7±198.6 /ml fecal streptococci. The lowest mean counts
33.3±40.4 /ml total coliforms, 40.0±36.1 /ml fecal coliforms and 36.7±63.5 /ml fecal streptococci
were observed at spring site-10.The mean pH concentration in all sampling sites ranged from
7.1±0.2- 8.4±0.0 and the mean temperature of the water sample ranged from 16.5±1.3 0C -
18.7±0.3 0C. None of the water samples comply the WHO and ES, 2002 standards for drinking
water. Moreover analysis of water handling practice by households, the most commonly
preferred type of water collection container was jerry can 62.9% and 37.1% clay pot. In regard
to the placement of drinking utensils, 54.3% put on the table, 28.6% hung on the wall, and
17.1% placed on the floor, respectively. Therefore, unsafe water handling was a common
practice in the study area and the majority of water sources were not free of total coliform,
faecal coliform and faecal Streptococci indicating noncompliance with WHO water quality
guideline. Hence, the management of water sources, appropriate treatment of the raw water
sources, control of physico–chemical parameters at disinfection points, and promoting good
hygienic practices are important to make the water quality acceptable in the study area.
