Bacterial Analysis of Selected Drinking Water Sources in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda

Surveillance of water quality to ensuremicrobiological safety is a vital public health function to prevent water bornediseases. Bacterial total coliform and Escherichiacoli (E. coli) examinationprovide indication of the hygienic condition of drinking water and are majortools in the assessment of the health risk borne by pathogen in water.Unfortunately, there is insufficient information on the total coliform and E. coli amounts in the common drinkingwater sources in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda despite the eminent anthropogenicsources of contamination. Hence the study established the sanitary risk andquantified the total coliform and E. coli load in selected drinkingwater sources in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda. A total of 70 water samples werecollected from selected boreholes, springs, wells and rainwater in Nyamitanga,Kamukuzi and Kakoba divisions of Mbarara municipality. The water samples wereanalysed for total coliform and E. coli abundanceusing the American Public Health Association (APHA) standard method. The totalcoliform and Escherichia coli countswere compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standardguidelines. The findings indicate that all the studied groundwater sources(boreholes, springs and wells) in Mbarara Municipality were not compliant toeither both or one of the WHO total coliform ( ml) and E. coli (0 CFU/100 ml) criteria fordrinking water hence they are unsuitable for drinking without treatment e.g.boiling etc. Only rainwater collected from Mbarara University of Science andTechnology met the WHO total coliform and E.coli criteria for drinking water thus is suitable for drinking without anytreatment. There is a strong linkage between bacterial (total coliforms and E.coli) water quality and water source sanitation, as well as the proximityof latrines, animal farms and landfills around the water sources. Mbararamunicipal council should therefore ensure effective and regular operation andmaintenance of the drinking water sources through the adoption and promotion ofappropriate water safety plans.