Water quality analysis of various domestic water sources used in Owerri Imo State, Nigeria

The water quality of the various domestic water sources used in Owerri Imo State was monitored. These water sources include the municipal tap water (A1, A2), borehole (B1, B2), Otammiri (C1, C2), Nworie (D1, D2) and rainwater (E1, E2). A total of ten (10) water samples from different sources were analyzed for appearance, odour, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, total heterotrophic bacterial counts (THBC), total coliform counts (TCC), and total Salmonella Shigella counts (TSSC). The data obtained were compared to WHO and NISDWQ standards for drinking and domestic water. The water samples revealed a slightly acidic pH ranging between 6.43 and 6.96. Electrical conductivity ranged from 42.05 ±1.42 µS/cm - 360.92 ±6.77 µS/cm. The temperature of the water samples between 20.6 °C and 28.8 °C. The water samples revealed an overall low bacterial count. Sample B1 recorded the lowest THBC of 1.0×102 ±0.01 cfu/mL, while sample D2 recorded the highest THBC of 2.1×106 ±0.06 cfu/mL. The highest TCC of 3.7×104 ±0.06 cfu/mL was observed in sample C2, while sample B1 recorded no visible growth for TCC. For TSSC, samples A1, A2, B1, B2, and E1 recorded no visible growth, while sample C1 revealed the highest TSSC of 2.1×102 ±0.011 cfu/mL. This study has revealed that only sample B1 aligned with the stipulated WHO and NISDWQ standards for drinking and domestic water.