BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER TANKS IN SOME RESIDENCE IN IKOT EKPENE METROPOLIS

This study was carried out to determine the quality of water supply to some residence in Ikot Ekpene Metropolis. The water samples were obtained from three different storage tanks and was assessed for bacteriological quality. The total bacterial count was determined by standard microbiological procedures and the use of different media. The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranges from 1.3 x 103 cfu/ml to 8.0 x 103 cfu/ml. Total number of four bacteria were isolated from the three water tanks. These bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, Bacillus sp. and Salmonella sp. The percentage occurrence of the bacterial isolates indicated that Staphylococcus sp, recorded the highest percentage occurrence of (39.1%); followed by Salmonella sp, which had (30.4%), Bacillus sp, had (17.4%) while Enterococcus sp, recorded the least percentage occurrence of (13.0%). The result shows that Staphylococcus sp, was only isolated from sampling point 1, Enterococcus sp, was isolated from sampling point 1 and 2, Bacillus sp, was isolated from sampling point 1 and 3 while Salmonella sp, was isolated from sampling point 2 and 3 respectively. All tested water tank samples recorded bacterial count above the permissible limit of EPA and WHO, thereby making the water stored in these tanks unsafe for human consumption. The contamination of water tanks could posed a health risk to users of these water. Water tanks should be washed regularly to avoid formation of biofilm.