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ABSTRACT
The provision of good-quality Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in adequate proportions is one of the key strategies for the prevention of diseases transmitted by the faecal-oral route among other facets of public health. This study was aimed at assessing the water, sanitation and hygiene status of Ekiosa and Oka markets located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from designated points at both markets and evaluated via physicochemical, heavy metal and microbiological analysis. Information of the availability of water, sanitation status and waste management in the markets was assessed using questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and IBM SPSS version 16. From the results obtained, the physicochemical properties of the water samples were in line with WHO standards except pH which was acidic (4.52±0.01 - 5.70±0.33). Studied heavy metal concentrations were within acceptable limits except for lead (BDL - 0.09mg/l) and chromium (BDL - 0.03mg/l) in two samples each. Microbial analysis of the samples showed the total heterotrophic bacteria to be 0.1 x 10 - 10.3 x 10cfu/ml and total fungi to be 0.1 x 10 - 0.2 x 10cfu/ml, however, coliform counts range from 2 - 17 MPN/100ml. Bacterial isolates from the study were Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp. and Proteus sp., while fungal isolates were Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus flavus. From the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics for inhibiting the bacterial isolates.The information gathered by questionnaire showed that there was water available at both markets with adequate sanitary facilities, while waste management was properly carried out. It is hereby recommended that water treatment be carried out to improve its quality before consumption, and government efforts towards waste management should be intensified.
