Evaluation of Physicochemical Changes and Microbial load in Drinking Water within Keffi Town Before and After Storage

The present study aimed at evaluating the physicochemical parameters and microbial load of drinking water in Keffi town, Nasarawa state, Nigeria and the effect of storing the water. Water samples were collected directory from the factories of selected vendors and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity (Tur), chloride ion (Cl-), alkalinity, sulphate ion (SO4-), nitrates (NO3-), phosphates (PO4-), total hardness (TH) and microbial counts following standard scientific procedures. The results were compared with WHO/NAFDAC recommended standards. Sachet water 1 (SW1), tap water (TW) and bottled water (BW1) had chloride values higher than the standards. TW, SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 and SW6 had viable cell counts above the 100 cfu/ml standards recommended by WHO/NAFDAC with isolated organisms. By the 10th week, pH values decreased in all the samples, TDS and %DO2 increased in all the samples. Alkalinity increased in all the samples with decreased TH, while sulphates values increased in all the samples. Nitrates were not detected in all the samples. Bottled water had total coliform counts within the acceptable values. The results of this study revealed that Bottled water was of best quality for consumption and prolonged storage of all the water samples caused a decrease in PH, TH, %DO2, BOD and Phosphates.