Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: April | Volume: 7 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 406-412
Water Supply and Bacteriological Qualities of Drinking Water in Primary Schools of North Central Nigeria
Amadi, C.O.A.1, Yakubu, M.B.2, Iro, O.K.3, Azuamah, Y.C.4, Amadi, A.N.1, Ukah, A.2
1Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri
2Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Abuja
3Department of Public Health, Abia State University Uturu
4Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Corresponding Author: Amadi, C.O.A
ABSTRACT
Adequate water supply and potable drinking water are essential for all growing children. This study was carried out to investigate the water supply and bacteriological qualities of drinking water in primary schools located at North central Nigeria. One thousand five hundred and fourteen water samples were collected from 48 schools located at North central Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire was used to interview 1,514 primary school children with the consent of their parents. Results that 1066 (70.4%) children had access to drinking water while 448 (29.6%) did not. The sources of drinking water was 383 (25.3%) from piped water; 463 (30.6%), tube well; 131 (8.7%) covered well; 27 (1.8%), rain water; 11 (0.7%) open well; 18 (1.2%) tanker truck; 24 (1.6%) stream; 246 (16.2%) bottled water and 104 (6.9%) sachet water. On the utilization of water supply, 1004 (66.3%), responded that drinking from the main source is currently available for the school while 510 (33.7%) said it is not available. The response to treatment of water showed that 623 (41.1%) always treat their water before using it; 361 (23.8%) sometimes; 530 (35.1%), never; 697 (46%) responded to boiling; 354 (23.4%), chlorine; 285 (18.8%), water filter; 99 (6.5%) solar disinfection; 79 (5.2%) let it stand and settle. The distribution of the bacterial isolates from water samples showed that Staphylococcus aureus has the greatest number of isolates with 319 (21.1%); Escherichia coli with 76 (12.3%) occurrence. Klebsiella pneumoniae had 200 (13.2%) isolates; Enterobacter species had 76 (5.0%) isolates; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 162 (10.7%); Salmonella species, 56 (3.7%) and Shigella species, 94 (6.2%). It was recommended that Governmental agencies ensure that every school complies with the provision of potable drinking water for their pupils.
Keywords: Water, Potable, Bacteria, Microorganism, Disease
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