Bacteriological Analysis of Groundwater in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe Local Government Area, Gombe State, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health

Authors

  • Kabiru Aliyu Baraya Department of Physical and Health Education, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
  • Sani Buba Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
  • Elizabeth Andrew Haruna Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
  • Jonathan Danna Zumunta Department of Integrated Science, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State.
  • Ahmed Mohammed Department of Physical and Health Education, School of Science Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
  • Saidu Idris Muhammad Bill and Melinda Gates College Health Sciences and Technology, Ningi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54117/yfm5rq39

Keywords:

Bacteriological contamination, Groundwater quality, Heterotrophic bacterial counts, Waterborne pathogens, Public health

Abstract

Potable water is essential for human development and public health promotion. A higher percentage of water for domestic purposes in Nigeria has been contaminated by pollutants due to human activities. The study was designed to assess the bacterial presence in groundwater in Gombe metropolis, Gombe State. A sample of water was collected for bacteriological analysis. All samples were collected in a sterilised container and taken to the microbiology laboratory for microbiological analysis. The result reveals that the values exceed the recommended limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) 0cfu/100ml and Nigeria standard of 10cfu/100ml (heterotrophic bacteria) with the highest recorded in Tudun Wada (borehole) with 7.0×194cfu/100ml with the least from both borehole and well in Dawaki with 1.2×104cfu/100ml. Various species of bacteria were identified in the sample of water collected from the sites, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, E. Coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were identified in various sites of the study. The bacterial counts in all the samples of water collected were above the permissible limit for consumption; therefore, not recommended for consumption without treatment.

Author Biographies

  • Kabiru Aliyu Baraya, Department of Physical and Health Education, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

    Chemistry education, Chief Lecturer

  • Sani Buba, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

    Department of Physical and Health Education, Senior Lecturer

  • Elizabeth Andrew Haruna, Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

    Physical and health Education, Professor

  • Jonathan Danna Zumunta, Department of Integrated Science, School of Science, Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State.

    Integrated science, Chief Lecturer 

  • Ahmed Mohammed, Department of Physical and Health Education, School of Science Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

    Physical and Health Education, Lecturer1

  • Saidu Idris Muhammad, Bill and Melinda Gates College Health Sciences and Technology, Ningi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

    Environmental Health, deputy Director 

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Published

2026-04-02

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Apr-Jun

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Kabiru Aliyu Baraya, Sani Buba, Elizabeth Andrew Haruna, Jonathan Danna Zumunta, Ahmed Muhammed, Saidu Idris Muhammad

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Bacteriological Analysis of Groundwater in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe Local Government Area, Gombe State, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health. (2026). IPS Journal of Public Health, 6(2), 657-660. https://doi.org/10.54117/yfm5rq39