Abstract:
In Ethiopia, access to improved water supply and sanitation was estimated at 52% and
28%, respectively. Over 60-80% of the communicable diseases are arising from unsafe
and inadequate water supply, poor hygiene condition and lack of regular treatment of
water. This study was conducted to assess the microbial and physicochemical quality of
drinking water in Woliso Town. The study was conducted from February 2016 to May
2016. A total of 51 water samples were collected from disinfected reservoirs, household
water taps and household water tankers. The bacteriological analysis demonstrated that
all the water samples in the study area had aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, faecal
coliforms, faecal streptococci and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The mean counts of
AMBC, TCC, and FCC ranged from 5.45-6.43 log CFU/100ml, 3.85-5.64 log CFU/100
ml, and 3.52-4.32 CFU/100ml, respectively.The water samples were also analyzed for
the presence of E. histolytia, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, yeasts & moulds. In addition, the
physico-chemical parameters such as turbidity, temperature, pH, total hardness,
fluorides iron and manganese contents of the drinking water were evaluated. With
respect to parasitological analysis, only 5.88% of the tap water samples were positive for
Cryptosporidium parvum while none of the water samples examined contained E.
histolytica and Giardia lamblia cysts. The mean yeast and mould counts were also
ranging from 0.285 -1.14CFU/100ml and 0.714-6.714CFU/100ml respectively. This
study revealed that all water samples analyzed did not meet the acceptable
bacteriological limits of safe drinking water set by WHO and ES guidelines.
Nonetheless, all water samples had reasonable bacteriological quality. The study also
showed that most of the physico-chemical parameters were within the range
recommended for drinking water of WHO guidelines except temperature which exceeded
the WHO standard of less than 15oC. On the basis of these findings, recommendation is
made to responsible authorities of Woliso town to implement effective water treatment
methods to produce microbiologically safe drinking water in the area.
