ABSTRACT

Nkwuaku and Ogbaru stream water were evaluated for the presence of microbial contaminants. A total number of twelve (12) microorganisms were isolated from both water samples analyzed. Eight (8) bacteria genera isolated include; Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcum aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus Spp. and Campylobacter spp. The four (4) fungi isolated include; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum. The physicochemical characteristics of the water samples showed that Nkwuaku stream water had the least total dissolved solid value of 21 Omg/L while the highest value of 270mg/L was recorded for Ogbaru stream water. The total bacteria count carried out revealed that Ogbaru stream water had the highest bacterial population of 5.lxlO7cthlml while the least bacterial population of 4.2x107cfu1m1 was recorded for Nkwuaku stream water. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp. had the highest percentage occurrence of 16.66% each, while the least percentage occurrence of 8.33% was recorded for Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsilla spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Campylobacter spp. each. Also, Aspergillus recorded the highest percentage occurrence of 40% for fungi while the least percentage of 20% was recorded for Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporium and Aspergillusfumigatus each.