Comparative Analysis Of The Microbiological And Physicochemical Characteristics Of Greywater Sources In Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

 The Comparative analysis of the Microbiological and physico chemical characteristics of greywater samples in Umuahia were carried out. The total heterotrophic plate count ranged from 8.1x10° to 1.11x10°cfu/ml, Salmonella-Shigella count ranged from 3.9x10° to 5.0x10°cfu/ml, Escherichia coli count ranged from 2.0x10° to 3.3><10 8 cfu/ml, Enterobacter aerogenes count ranged from 3.0x 10° to 3.9xJ0 8cfu/ml, the fungal count ranged from 1.5x10° to 4.2><10 8 cfu/ml while the coliform count ranged from 2I00MPN/100ml to llOOOMPN/lOOml. The microorganisms isolated and their percentage occurence were Enterobacter aerogenes (23.8%}, Proteus species (9.52%), Escherichia coli (28.57%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.05%), Salmonella species (14.29%), Staphylococcus aureus (4.76%), Rhizopus species (20%), Penicillium species (20%), Aspergil/us species (40%), Trichoderma species (20%). The results showed that the effluent samples were contaminated heavily with known pathogenic microorganisms and should therefore be treated before reuse. This study suggests the need for greywater to be treated properly before reuse.