Mailafia S. and Agbede S. A.
The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bacterial and fungal organisms isolated from biofilms of water distribution systems and Receptacles. Our results clearly demonstrated that the overall prevalence rate of the microorganisms was 36.36%. The frequency of occurrence of the bacterial isolates urns: Ligionella pneumophila (3.33%), Aeromonas hydrophila (6.67%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (25.00%), Mycobacterium avium (1.67%), coliforms (25.00%), E. coli 16.67%>, Salmonella typhi 18.33, and Streptococcus species 3.33%>. Fungal organism isolated included Aspergillus niger (50.00%), Penicillium rubrum 20.00%, Fusarium species (30.00%). Heterotrophic bacterial counts yielded bacterial load ranging from 3.0 x 101 to 1.2 x 107 CFU/ml. These were analyzed statistically and the results of X2 showed that P = <0.01, with the Standard Deviation of 3.5 x 204 + 2.0 x 105 and1.15 x 102 x 102± 1.1 x 103 for both copper and stainless steel pipes respectively. Biofilms in Nigerian drinking water distribution systems and receptacles could provide nutrients for microbial growth, biosynthesis and proliferation. It is necessary to treat water distribution plants and provide adequate public health education in order to safeguard human health and animal health especially in developing counties.
