Bacteriological and Physicochemical Assessment of Well Water Quality in Wukari Metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria

Groundwater is an important source of domestic water in Wukari Metropolis, Taraba State, Nigeria, but inadequate well protection and human activities may compromise its quality. This study assessed the bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of well water collected from three wards in Wukari Metropolis. Nine water samples were obtained from selected wells in Avyi, Hospital, and Puje wards and analysed using conventional microbiological and physicochemical methods. Bacterial isolates were identified presumptively from colony morphology, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. Four bacterial groups were reported: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella spp. Total viable bacterial counts ranged from 1.0 × 106 to 1.6 × 106 CFU/mL. Of the 18 isolates recovered, S. aureus accounted for 38.9%, followed by E. coli (27.8%), P. aeruginosa (22.2%), and Klebsiella spp. (11.1%). The pH ranged from 6.8 to 8.3, electrical conductivity from 96.1 to 120.3 µS/cm, and total dissolved solids from 109.3 to 128.8 mg/L. Turbidity (25.8 to 29.4 NTU) exceeded the 5 NTU benchmark used in the study. The findings indicate substantial bacterial contamination and suggest that the sampled well water requires appropriate treatment before consumption. Improved well protection, sanitation, and routine water quality monitoring are recommended.