TAP WATER,

Clean water is essential for the health and survival of all life forms. Surface and underground water polluted by microbes and chemicals exacerbates issues of water scarcity. This continues to negatively affect the well-being of most people in developing countries like Nigeria and K-Vom, in Plateau State. Thus, this study aimed to determine the microbial contamination of tap water, well water and river water associated with water sources at ikpoba hill environs Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Five (5) samples were collected and analysed using standard microbiological procedures. Isolates were identified by microscopic, biochemical and carbohydrate fermentation characterizations. The nutrient agar (NA) count, which indicates the total heterotrophic bacterial population, showed that river water had the highest bacterial load (60–61 cfu/ml), followed by tap water samples (46–57 cfu/ml), while well water samples had comparatively lower bacterial counts (30–44 cfu/ml) and The bacterial count on MacConkey agar (MCA), which is selective for Gram-negative enteric bacteria, was generally lower compared to the total heterotrophic count. Tap water recorded the highest counts (19–27 cfu/ml), while well and river water had very low counts (3–5 cfu/ml)