PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF WATER UTILIZED IN THE MEDICAL CELL, MBARARA CITY, SOUTHWESTERN UGANDA, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Authors

  • CHRISTOPHER OKENY MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • WILSON KIDUUMA Mbarara University of Science and Technology
  • ADRINE IKIRIIZA Mbarara University of Science and Technology
  • Salim Swalhe Sonia Mbarara University of Science and Technology
  • Sadrack Omara Mbarara University of Science and Technology
  • Catherine N Abaasa Mbarara University of Science and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.612

Keywords:

Physical, Chemical, Microbiological, Safety, Domestic, Water

Abstract

 Introduction:
safe and readily available water is very vital for public health functions whether it is used for drinking, food production, washing, or recreation purposes. This study assessed the physical properties (temperature, total dissolved solids), chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity), and microbiological properties (total coliform counts, Escherichia coli counts) of domestic water utilized in the medical cell, Mbarara city, Southwestern Uganda.
Method:
total coliform counts and total Escherichia coli counts were performed on Eosin Methylene blue medium and the organisms were subculture on MacConkey agar. This was followed by biochemical tests on individual bacterial colonies to identify the water contaminant.
Results:
the study revealed that temperature ranged from 21.3oC to 25.5oC, pH ranged from 5.23 to 7.91, electrical conductivity ranged from 110 to 189µS/cm, and total dissolved solids ranged from 54mg/dl to to112mg/dL. Microbiologically, 67.74% of the water samples had total coliform counts >10CFU/100mL and 6.45% had Escherichia coli counts > 0CFU/100mL of the water sample. 47.62% of the isolates were Enterobacter spp, 38.10% Citrobacter spp, 9.52% Escherichia coli, 9.52% Klebsiella spp, 7.14% Salmonella spp and 4.76% Pseudomonas spp.
Conclusion:
microbiologically, the water supply had potential disease-causing pathogens that pose risks of water-borne disease outbreaks to the population.
Recommendation:
The national water and sewerage corporation should inspect the water supply pipelines for leakages and repairs should be made where necessary.
Responsible stakeholders of the Medical cell, Mbarara City should ensure proper disposal of human wastes. Further studies can be done to genotype the microbial water contaminants and or determine their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

 

Author Biographies

CHRISTOPHER OKENY, MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Medical Laboratory Scientist

WILSON KIDUUMA, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Medical Laboratory Scientist

ADRINE IKIRIIZA, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Salim Swalhe Sonia, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Sadrack Omara, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Medical Laboratory Scientist, Postgraduate student persuing MSc Medical Laboratory Sciences - Microbiology

Catherine N Abaasa, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Microbiology Lecturer in the department of Medical Laboratory Sciences

Downloads

Published

2023-09-15

How to Cite

OKENY, C., KIDUUMA, W., IKIRIIZA, A., Sonia, S. S., Omara, S., & Abaasa, C. N. (2023). PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF WATER UTILIZED IN THE MEDICAL CELL, MBARARA CITY, SOUTHWESTERN UGANDA, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 4(9), 11. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.612

Issue

Section

Section of Educational Studies Research