Microbial and Chemical Risk Assessment of River Bukuruwa Used as Drinking Water by Farming Communities

Water is very vital for the sustenance of life and according to World Health Organization; potable water should be free from any health risk. However due to in adequate supply of potable water, many rural dwellers have no choice but to depend on streams and rivers as source of drinking water which becomes the vehicle for the transmission of infections due to a host of microorganisms both pathogenic and non-pathogenic present in these water bodies. This study therefore quantified and assessed the microorganisms present in river Bukuruwa in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Water was aseptically collected into sterile sampling bottles with caps and analyzed in the laboratory through standard microbiological protocols. Microbial organisms such as Feacal coliforms, E.coli and Salmonella spp. as well as physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, turbidity, Sulphate (SO42-), Fluoride (F-), Phosphates (PO43-), Nitrites (NO2-) and Nitrates (NO3-) were quantified and assessed, respectively. The highest load of faecal coliforms in the river water at a point in this study was found to be 9 x 102 per 100 ml and pH values ranging from 5.31 to 6.84 with variations within the sampling points. The observational survey revealed human beings competing with farm animals for the same source of water and again farming activities were carried out very close to the river banks which may increase the chance of infections which needs serious attention by policy makers and implementers.