Bacteriological Quality, Prevalence of Water-Borne Pathogens, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles in Drinking Water Sources Werabe Town, Central Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Water is essential for sustaining life and is involved in numerous daily activities. Bacterial contamination of drinking water is a major public health problem worldwide because contaminated water can be an important vehicle of diarrheal diseases. This study aimed to assess the evaluated Bacteriological Quality, Prevalence of Water-Borne Pathogens, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles in Drinking Water Sources Werabe Town. The study involved laboratory based experimental analysis was used during January 2025 to June 2025. A total of 105 water samples were collected by purposive sampling technique, 78 were collected from tap water, 12 from protected boreholes, and 15 from public taps were used for enumeration (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and Enterobacteriaceae) as well as isolation and characterization of microbes. Selected pathogens were also evaluated for their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. microbial count were analysis by using SPSS version 21.Bacteriological analysis revealed the presence of the mean counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and Enterobacteriaceae in water samples collected from public taps were 6.22 ± 0.43, 1.44 ± 0.11, 0.66 ± 0.86, and 1.30 ± 0.43 log CFU/100 mL, Privet tap water 5.89±0.36, 1.72±0.11, 0.35±0.67 and 1.44±0.68 and Borehole water 5.9±0.38, 1.62±0.05, 0.79±0.83 and 1.42±0.67 respectively. A total of 2 sample positive for Salmonella spp, 5 E. coli, isolates from drinking water showed a concerning resistance pattern. Both bacterial species were highly resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin, while sensitive to, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol, results indicate the presence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the water sources.The results indicated that none of the analyzed water samples met the acceptable bacteriological standards for safe drinking water as set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ethiopian Standards (ES). Although the overall bacteriological quality of the water samples was relatively acceptable, the presence of indicator organisms suggests potential health risks. Therefore, it is recommended that the responsible authorities in Werabe Town implement effective water treatment and monitoring strategies to ensure the provision of microbiologically safe drinking water