BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF RECREATIONAL WATERS WITHIN OVIA-NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

Waterborne illnesses are caused by recreational or drinking water contaminated by disease-causing microbes or pathogens. Hence the aim of this study was to determine the bacteriological quality and physicochemical properties of recreational waters within Ovia-North East Local Government Area. Water samples were collected from 3 selected recreational water centres and placed into sterile sampling bottles, transported to the laboratory in ice-pack for physicochemical and bacteriological analyses following standard procedures. The bacteriological assessment was carried out using membrane filtration, identification of the isolates was done using biochemical methods, phenotypic virulence properties were evaluated for the isolates and antimicrobial sensitivity was carried out using biodisc diffusion method. Molecular techniques were also employed and the sequences were aligned and phylogenetic tree was constructed to show the bacterial species that are most closely related to the bacterial isolated from this study. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that that pH ranged from 6.5±0.30 to 6.8±0.36, hardness ranged from 7.6±0.52 to 45.7±2.66 mg/l, calcium ranged from 1.44±0.14 to 4.11±0.18 mg/l, SO4 ranged from 1.0±0.10 to 8.0±0.39 mg/l, chloride ranged from 12.6±0.90 to 41.0±3.13 mg/l and chlorine ranged from 19.4±1.60 to 3.0±0.33 mg/l respectively. The results of bacteriological analysis of the different recreational water samples also revealed that the heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 6.0±0.33 to 14.8±1.19 x103 cfu/ml, Staphylococcus aureus count ranged from 12.0±1.12 to 59.0±2.65 x103 cfu/ml and Escherichia coli count ranged from 17.0±1.19 to 92.0±3.59 x103 cfu/ml. The antibacterial susceptibility testing showed that all isolates were susceptible to Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin but were also resistant to Ceftazimidime, Cefuroxime, Ofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Nitrofurantoin and Ampicillin. Molecular identification revealed three bacterial strain such as Bacillus subtilis strain GsEND8, Escherichia coli strain JCM 1649 and Staphylococcus aureus JKD6008. This study therefore highlights the need for continuous monitoring and quality assessment of recreational water for purification processes to enhance the elimination of pathogenic bacteria. Hence environmental agencies should ensure compliance with relevant standards to avoid risks to human health.