DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2019.v07i09.003

Pages: 368-372

Regular and frequent analysis of drinking water quality is imperative to protect water borne diseases. It has been the interest of the public to know whether the drinking water provided for drinking are safe for human consumption. This study was aimed to assess the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water at Horro Guduru Wollega, Ethiopia. A total of 21 water samples were selected for this study. Turbidity, pH and temperature were measured using a turbidity meter, pH meter and thermometer respectively. Residual chlorine was determined with chlorine tablets. The microbiological quality of the samples was determined following standard procedures. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. The temperature, pH and turbidity of almost all samples were in acceptable range when compared with the standards established by WHO, except the chlorine which is lower than the standards in all samples. But also the turbidity is comparatively high (nearest to the upper limit) in almost all samples. All the water samples were positive to TAMB and total coliform, while 90.48% of collected water samples were positive for E.coli with the concentration above the permissible limits for drinking water. However, temperature, pH and turbidity were within the acceptable range except residual chlorine, the microbial load indicate that the waters were found to be contaminated. The findings demonstrated the need to drinking water quality monitoring strategies.