Assessment of Bacteriological and Parasitological Contamination of Drinking Water Storage Containers in the Municipality of Fokoué, West Cameroon

ABSTRACT Sanitary quality of drinking water is essential to meet demand and prevent water‐borne diseases. Storage water containers represent a significant factor in the transmission of waterborne diseases. In the municipality of Fokoué, cans are the most commonly used containers for storing water. This study assessed the bacteriological and parasitological quality of these containers in order to develop strategies for reducing water‐borne diseases. Twelve cans were randomly collected from households and subjected to analysis by membrane filtration and flotation. Results showed fecal contamination in all parts of the cans, with alarming levels of Escherichia coli (2 × 10 5 ± 1 × 10 5 CFU/cm 2 ), Shigella spp. (22 × 10 6 ± 17 × 10 6 CFU/cm 2 ), and Salmonella spp. (2 × 10 5 ± 1 × 10 5 CFU/cm 2 ). Parasite eggs and trophozoites were also detected, exceeding WHO standards. These findings highlight the need for rigorous maintenance of drinking water storage containers which act as reservoirs of human pathogens, thus constituting a major problem of drinking water crises.