Assessment of the Relationship between Hygiene Practices and Water contamination levels of waters used by Restaurants and Local food vendors in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Safe and clean water continues to be one of the most critical issues of public health, especially in developing nations where water pollution is rampant. This research evaluated the connection between hygiene practices and water contamination of water samples collected from restaurants and food vendors in Aba City, Abia State, Nigeria. A total of 120 water samples obtained from various sources, including borehole, rainwater, municipal supply, itinerant vendors, sachet water, and bottled water were analyzed using standard laboratory methods to detect the parasitic and microbial contaminants of water. The results revealed that 27 (22.5%) of the samples were contaminated with parasites while 47 (39.2%) were contaminated with microorganisms. Parasitological examination identified 9 samples each contaminated with Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Microbiological analysis showed that 22 samples contained total coliforms, 11 had Escherichia coli, 7 had Salmonella spp., and 7 had Staphylococcus aureus.  Contamination was observed in both drinking water (15 parasitic; 23 microbial) and water used for food preparation (12 parasitic; 24 microbial), indicating multiple exposure pathways. Assessment based on water sources showed that borehole and municipal water recorded the highest contamination levels, while sachet and bottled water had comparatively lower but still notable contamination. The findings highlight widespread contamination across all water sources and demonstrate a clear association between poor hygiene practices and increased water contamination. There is need for improved water treatment, regular monitoring, and enhanced hygiene education to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and ensure public health safety.

Keywords: Hygiene practices, Water contamination, Restaurants, Local food vendors, Aba