Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Characteristics of Hand-Dug Wells and Boreholes Water Quality of the Vina Division, Cameroon

Background: Limited access to safe drinking water and lack of information on water quality in the sub-urban and rural regions of Cameroon has contributed to regular outbreaks of diarrheal diseases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of drinking water in the Vina division. Methods: A total of 193 water samples were collected from unprotected boreholes, unprotected wells and unprotected clay pots and analyzed physico-chemically including pH, turbidity, total dissolved solid, conductivity and microbiologically such as enumeration of Enterococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio sp using standard methods. This study revealed that safe status of the groundwater sources in the Vina division is very poor, considering the high levels of E.coli, Enterococcus sp. and the presence of enter pathogens microorganism such as Vibrio sp., Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. Representative isolates (26) based on biochemical profile were selected for antibio resistance profile. All selected bacteria exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance at least for five antibiotics including ampicillin, amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid, amoxicillin, penicillin, erythromycin. Conclusion: This study suggests that drinking water available in Vina division of Cameroon lead to a substantial risk to public health. It is therefore necessary to developed strategies for protection of areas around drinking water supplies site. Further studies are therefore needed to assess the prevalence of water borne diseases in Vina division.