Abstract: Water is the most important substance for human survival and well-being, healthy ecosystems and sustainable development. The water quality used for irrigation is essential for the yield and quantity of crops. Pollution of water with deleterious microbes, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, as well as fungi, has been on steady increase globally.
The bacterial quality of water from the lake at Lakeside Marine Park was assessed to ascertain whether it met International microbiological standards for safe human usage, since it used for recreational purposes, for irrigation and other human uses of water by people living in the surrounding communities. The water samples were tested for the presence of the following bacterial water quality indicators: total viable count, total coliform count and faecal coliform count. Water samples of the lake were collected at five different sites along the lake and sent for microbiological laboratory analysis. The various sites for the water sampling had faecal coliforms which exceeded the 103 per 100 mL of water to be used in irrigation of vegetables that are eaten uncooked.
The presence of coliform bacteria in the lake poses a significant potential health risk depending on how the cultivated vegetables may be handled before use and how frequently children and the youth use the lake for recreational purposes.
Keywords: faecal coliforms, human health, water samples, irrigation.
Title: Microbiological Quality Monitoring of Water from a Lake Associated with Varying Human Activity
Author: Edna Dzifa Doe, Adolf Kofi Awua, Daniel Kobby Larbi
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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