Abstract

**Uhuo, C.A, *Uneke B.I, Okereke C.N, Nwele D.E and Ogbanshi M.E

The study on the bacteriological examination of borehole water was conducted in peri-urban areas of Abakaliki Ebonyi State. A total of forty samples were assessed for the presence of coliform bacteria using Most Probable Number techniques (MPN). The study revealed that some coliform bacteria which make water unsafe for drinking were implicated from these samples assayed and thus, recorded as follows:  E. coli, (65.5%) klebsiella aerogenes (8.64%), Bacillus sp (6.25 %), Salmonella sp (10.5%) and Bacilla subtilis (8.62%) were isolated from the water samples assessed, where E. coli (65.5%) was recorded higher among others from samples collected at Ukwuachi road and Umuoghara. The statistical analysis (p<0.05) showed that  Ukwuachi and Umuoghara boreholes showed high bacteria load compared to others hence the quality of the borehole waters for drinking. From the standpoint of bacteriological analysis, all borehole water in these peri-urban areas did not meet the World Health Organization Standards and should be boiled before drinking to reduce or avoid infectious microorganism which constitute the coliform bacterium in water making it unsafe for drinking. Since most households in these peri-urban areas solely rely on borehole water as their main source of drinking and usage for domestic activities but, hence contaminated, the consequences could be fatal due to the public health risk and dangers associated with drinking such contaminated water.