Physicochemical And Microbiological Qualities Of Umuariaga River

ABSTRACT

This study determined the microbiological and physicochemical qualities of Umuariaga River in Ikwuano LGA of Umuahia. A total of 30 samples collected over a 10 day period from three different points of the river were analyzed. Total viable counts were enumerated and they ranged as follows; Total Heterotrophic Plate Count (1.7 × 101 to 7.8 × 101 for upstream, 1.1 × 103 to 5.9 × 103 for midstream and 1.4 × 103 to 3.8 × 103 for downstream), Total Coliform Plate Count (1.6 × 101 to 4.3 × 101 for upstream, 1.5 × 103 to 5.6 × 103 for midstream and 2.5 × 103 to 9.0 × 103 for downstream), Total Fungal Count (1.4 × 101 to 9.0 × 101 for upstream, 1.5 × 103 to 4.6 × 103 for midstream and 1.1 × 103 to 4.0 × 103 for downstream). The results showed that the midstream region had the highest viable counts and this could be attributed to high human and possibly animal activities in the region of Umuariaga River. Due to the relatively low coliform count in the upstream region, it was implied that the upstream region of Umuariaga River was quite fit and safe drinking. The physicochemical quality of the river was also studied. The parameters studied were pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids and conductivity and the results were observed to be well within the WHO standards. From this study, it can be said that Umuariaga River is not polluted and can be deemed fit and safe for drinking. However, proper treatment of the water is required as a safety measure before consumption.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgments ﾿ iv

Table of contents ﾿ v

List of tables ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Aim and Objectives ﾿ 3

1.1.1 ﾿ Objectives ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW ﾿ 4

2.1 ﾿ Pollution ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Water ﾿ 4

2.3 ﾿ Water Pollution ﾿ 5

2.3.1 ﾿ Contamination of Drinking Water ﾿ 6

2.4 ﾿ Water Quality ﾿ 6

2.4.1 ﾿ Economic Effects of Water Quality ﾿ 7

2.5 ﾿ Classes of Water Related Diseases ﾿ 7

2.6 ﾿ World Health Organization (Who) Standards for Drinking Water ﾿ 8

2.7 ﾿ Typical Chemical Contamination ﾿ 9

2.8 ﾿ Types of Contaminants ﾿ 10

2.9 ﾿ Bacteriological Water Quality ﾿ 11

2.10 ﾿ Water Borne Pathogens and Diseases ﾿ 11

2.11 ﾿ Indicator Organisms of Water Quality ﾿ 13

2.11.1 ﾿ Coliform Organisms (Total Coliform) ﾿ 14

2.11.2 ﾿ Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria ﾿ 15

2.11.3 ﾿ Escherichia Coli ﾿ 16

2.11.4 ﾿ Faecal Streptococci and Enterococci ﾿ 16

2.11.5 ﾿ Clostridium Perfringens ﾿ 18

2.11.6 ﾿ Heterotrophic Plate Count ﾿ 19

2.12 ﾿ Use of Bacteria as Indicators of Pathogenic Organisms in Water ﾿ 20

2.13 ﾿ Physicochemical Water Quality ﾿ 21

2.13.1 ﾿ Biochemical Oxygen Demand ﾿ 23

2.13.2 ﾿ Dissolved Oxygen ﾿ 25

2.14 ﾿ Physical Water Quality ﾿ 26

2.14.1 ﾿ Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ﾿ 26

2.14.2 ﾿ pH ﾿ 27

2.14.3 ﾿ Turbidity ﾿ 28

2.14.4 ﾿ Electrical Conductivity (EC) ﾿ 29

2.14.5 ﾿ Temperature ﾿ 29

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS ﾿ 31

3.1 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 31

3.2 ﾿ Materials ﾿ 31

3.2.1 ﾿ Sterilization of Materials ﾿ 31

3.2.2 ﾿ Media Used and Their Preparation ﾿ 32

3.3 ﾿ Sample Collection ﾿ 32

3.4 ﾿ Enumeration of Microorganisms ﾿ 32

3.4.1 ﾿ Pour Plate Techniques ﾿ 33

3.5 ﾿ Microbiological Analysis ﾿ 33

3.5.1 ﾿ Total Plate Counts ﾿ 34

3.5.2 ﾿ Total Coliform Count ﾿ 34

3.5.3 ﾿ Total Fungal Count ﾿ 34

3.6 ﾿ Chemical Tests ﾿ 35

3.6.1 ﾿ pH Test ﾿ 35

3.6.2 ﾿ Suspended Solid Determination (SS) ﾿ 35

3.6.2.1 ﾿ Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Determination ﾿ 35

3.6.2.2 ﾿ TDS Test (Total Dissolved Solids) ﾿ 35

3.6.3 ﾿ Conductivity Test ﾿ 36

CHAPTER FOUR

Results ﾿ 37

4.1 ﾿ Microbiological Properties ﾿ 37

4.2 ﾿ Physicochemical Properties ﾿ 37

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ﾿ 43

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 43

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 45

References ﾿ 47