Bacteriological quality of spring water inGimbichu District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia

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.