Pages: (9-16 )
Abstract
The general challenge to obtain good supply of portable water from pure sources and avoid acquisition of water-borne disease has resulted in many residential homes and offices embracing the use of water dispensers. It is believed that these dispensers serve as purifier and as
such no further measures are taken to maintain them. This study was carried out to determine the microbial quality of water from dispensers
collected from homes and offices within the University of Lagos. A total of twenty water samples were collected from dispensers; eight of which were from homes and twelve from offices. Information on the maintenance of the dispensers was also obtained. The samples were
analyzed for total heterotrophic count, presence of coliforms and antimicrobial susceptibility. All the water samples were contaminated with a total heterotrophic count of 1.4 x 102 - 3.4 x 103 cfu/ml. The average coliform count ranged from 1.0 x 102 - 5.2 x 102 cfu/ml. The isolates were; Escherichia coli (27%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9%), Enterobacter aerogenes (20%), Shigella flexneri (20%), Proteus vulgaris (9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%). The antibiotic susceptibility test showed that 100% of the isolates were resistant to Cefuroxime (30μg) while 100% of the isolates were sensitive to Ofloxacin (5μg). Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index derived ranged from 0.38 to 0.75. The result of this study confirms the presence of bacteria of public health importance in drinking water from the dispensers which may be a result of poor hygiene and improper maintenance of water dispensers.
Keywords: microbiological quality, drinking water, bacteria, water dispenser,