I. H. Igbinosa

Access to clean and safe water is fundamental to sustaining public health and ensuring community well-being. This study assessed the water quality and hygiene practices of households in Ogbelaka, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research aimed to determine the microbiological quality of household water, evaluate hygiene practices, and identify householdlevel factors contributing to contamination. A cross-sectional design was employed, combining field sampling and survey methods. Water samples from selected households were analyzed for thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli using standard microbiological procedures. Data on hygiene, sanitation, and water handling practices were collected through structured questionnaires. Results indicated that a significant proportion of water samples showed microbial contamination exceeding WHO permissible limits, highlighting risks of waterborne diseases. Many households relied on untreated or poorly treated water sources such as boreholes and wells, with inadequate storage and handling practices contributing to contamination. Hygiene practices, particularly handwashing with soap at critical times, were suboptimal, and household water treatment methods were inconsistently applied. The findings underscore the urgent need for public health interventions that promote community- based water treatment, improved sanitation, and sustained hygiene education. The study concludes that strengthening local water management, behavioral change communication, and enforcement of water quality standards are crucial steps toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) in Ogbelaka and similar semi-urban communities.

Garri is a commonly consumed cassava product in Nigeria. Poorly processed/stored garri could pose serious health risk to consumers. This study seek to investigate the microbial evaluation of garri sold in open markets Benin City. Five garri samples were purchased from eight open markets which are; Egor market, Oba market, Ekiosa market, Oluku market and Adolor market, Ikpoba-Hill market, and Aduwawa market, all in Edo State making a total of 40 samples. 500 mg each for the sample and appropriately labeled. The samples were transported to the Environmental Management and Toxicology Department laboratory, for microbial, pH and moisture content analysis. Different media such as Potato Dextrose agar (PDA), Nutrient Agar (NA) were prepared separately. 1g of each sample (garri) was weighing on a weighing balance, dissolved properly in 10m1 of pepton water which was used to prepare ten folds serial dilution. Using pour plate method. The total number of bacteria, yeast and moulds in the garri samples was determined. The total number of colony forming unit (CFU/g) was calculated, the moisture content and pH of the garri samples were also calculated. Data obtained were analyzed in percentage and mean. Total Heterotrophic bacteria count in garri samples (cfu/g x103) indicated that Egor and Adolor markets had the highest heterotrophic bacteria count of (9.25 x103) respectively while Ikpoba Hill market had the lowest count of (1.00 x103). The highest fungal count was recorded in Ekiosa market (1.75) and the lowest was in New Benin market (0.50). The bacteria identified are; Micrococcus sp., Escherichia coli,: Klebsiella sp.,Lactobacillus sp Enterobacter sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp,, Streptococcus sp., Shigella sp., Bacillus sp. the fungi identified are Rhizomucor sp., Aspergillus sp., Trichophyton sp., Geotrichum sp., Mudurella sp and Candida sp. The highest moisture content was noticed in Aduwawa market 16.80% sample C and last was in Oluku market 8.70% sample B. The highest pH was noticed in Oluku sample C (6.76) and the lowest pH was in Egor market sample A (4.11). There is therefore a need to maintain proper sanitary conditions so as to avoid health risks. The moisture content of garri samples analyzed is low and within standard specification, this could have accounted for keeping the microbial load of garri low.