Determination of Heavy Metals and Bacterial Contaminations from Different Water Sources in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The occurrence of high levels of heavy metals in drinking water is a significant health concern due to the accompanying health concerns. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bacterial species and concentration of heavy metals in certain drinking water sources in Ikwo, Ebonyi State. Nigeria. The analysis of metal concentration revealed that the levels of lead, iron, and mercury in the water exceeded the established limits for drinking water quality set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigeria standard for drinking water quality (NSDWQ). However, the concentrations of copper, zinc, calcium, and sodium in the water were not statistically significant (P >0.05). The bacteriological count results indicated that the average Total Bacterial Count (TBC) in water samples collected from ponds, rivers, and wells were 5.10 x 10-⁴, 6.10 x 10-³, and 4.10 x 10-⁴, respectively. During the experiment, there was a notable disparity (p <0.05) in the bacterial quantities seen in all of the samples. Escherichia coli was the predominant strain, representing 70% of all isolates, as indicated by prevalence surveys. Salmonella and Klebsiella species accounted for 25% and 39% of isolates, respectively. Research on antibiotics discovered that Salmonella, Klebsiella species, and E. coli exhibited significant resistance to popular antibiotics, albeit showing some vulnerability to some ones. The presence of antibiotic resistant microbes in drinking water samples from the research region is a significant public health concern due to the high probability of contracting waterborne illnesses and the associated health hazards. This is particularly worrisome for the immune-compromised residents of the area.