ABSTRACT

The research was conducted to investigate the portability of nine(9) water samples collected  from New Benin, Oba and Uselu market in Benin City. Physicochemical and Standard bacteriological methods were used to enumerate the bacteria from these water samples. From the results obtained. The PH result range from 6.37 to 6.70, temperature also was at 27-29^o, electronicconductivityrangedat8-15,turbidityofthewaterwasat0.3to0.5,phosphatewasat

0.19 to 0.25 while nitrate was 1.4 to 2.05. The results showed that the enumeration of microbial population (Total heterotrophic bacteria and coliform count) total heterotrophic bacterial count obtained ranges from 2.9542 – 3.29003 log₁₀ cfu/ml and that of coliform count ranges from 2.0000 to 2.47712 log₁₀ cfu/ml. following the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of bacteria from borehole samples, the result revealed that E. coli, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Klebsiella sp., were present. The virulence pathogenicity test showed that all isolates were pathogenic as they were all positive to DNase degradation test and also showed beta hemolytic result on hemolysis test. This isolates obtained in this study were resistant to colistin, erythromycin, metronidazole and clindamycin among the antibiotics used but were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin augmentin and tetracyclin. Findings showed that the water gotten from New Benin and Uselu market are not suitable for consumption and should be treated while that of Oba market can be consumed but not completely suitable and also needs treatment.