The Microbiological And Physiochemical Characteristics Of Ezu- Nwaobunagu Stream At Nawfia Town, Njikoka Local Government Area Of Anambra State

ABSTRACT

The microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of Ezu-nwabunagu stream were carried out aseptically. A total of 20 water samples were collected and analyzed for total aerobic plate count, coliform count, Escherichiacoli count, Salmonella-Shigella count, Vibrio cholerae count and fungal count using pour plate technique. The media used were nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, eosin methylene blue agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar, thiosulphate citrate bile sucrose agar and potato dextrose agar. From the present analysis, the total aerobic plate count (TAPC)has the lowest count of 1.5 ± 0.2 x 106cfu/mL to the highest count of 1.12 ± 0.5 x 107cfu/mL; coliform count has the lowest count of 0 ± 0.0MPN/100mLthe highest count of 902 ± 20MPN/100mL; Salmonella-Shigella count has the lowest count of 0 ± 0.0cfu/mL to the highest count of  7 ± 0.4 x 103cfu/mL; Escherichiacoli count has the lowest count of 0 ± 0.0cfu/mL to the highest count of 2.4 ± 0.6 x 103cfu/mL; Vibrio cholerae count has the lowest count of 0 ± 0.0cfu/mL to the highest count of 6 ± 0.5 x 102cfu/mL and the fungal count has the lowest count of 0 ± 0.0cfu/mL to the highest count of 2.5 ± 0.07 x 102cfu/mL. The microorganisms isolated and their percentage occurrence were Pseudomonas species, Vibriocholerae, Shigella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, Bacillus species, Proteus species, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Aspergillus species, Penicillum species and Yeast. The mean values ranged as follows, pH, 6.15 ± 0.1 – 6.90 ± 0.2; temperature, 29.0 ± .02oC – 31.0 ± 0.05oC; total dissolved solids, 0.024 ± 0.002mg/L – 0.11 ± 0.01mg/L; total suspended solids, 0.015 ± 0.001mg/L – 0.034 ± 0.003mg/L; alkalinity, 0.07 ± 0.01mg/L – 0.36 ± 0.03mg/L; hardness, 42.75 ± 2.5mg/L – 94.85 ± 10.0mg/L; nitrate, 0 ± 0.0mg/L – 65.47 ± 5.0mg/L; sulphate, 0 ± 0.0mg/L – 332.35 ± 25.0mg/L; phosphate, 8.70 ± 1.0mg/L – 86.82 ± 7.5mg/L; zinc, 0.24 ± 0.02mg/L – 1.88 ± 0.3mg/L; iron, 0.86 ± 0.01mg/L – 3.54 ± 0.05mg/L; copper, 0 ± 0.0mg/L – 0.4 ± 0.01mg/L; silver, 0 ± 0.0mg/L; lead, 0 ± 0.0mg/L – 0.8 ± 0.01mg/L; manganese, 0.1 ± 0.0mg/L – 0.04 ± 0.01mg/L and mercury, 0 ± 0.0mg/L. From the result showed, the stream is polluted with organisms of public health importance and the stream water should be treated before use.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT ﾿ PAGE

Title ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgement ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ viii

List of Figures ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE ﾿

1.1 Background to the study ﾿ 1

1.2 Location of the Study Area ﾿ 2

1.3 Scope of the study ﾿ 2

1.4 Justification ﾿ 2

1.5 Aims and objectives of the study ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review ﾿ 4

2.1 Sources of Water ﾿ 4

2.1.1 Ground water ﾿ 5

2.2 Microbiological Examination of Water ﾿ 6

2.3 Indicators of Microbial water quality ﾿ 6

2.3.1 The Coliforms ﾿ 6

2.3.2 Contaminants of water ﾿ 7

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Collection of the samples ﾿ 9

3.2 Microbiological method ﾿ 12

3.2.1 Media preparation ﾿ 12

3.2.2 Colony count ﾿ 12

3.2.3 Chemical reagents ﾿ 12

3.2.4 Enumeration of Total Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count ﾿ 13

3.3 Characterization and identification of bacterial and fungal isolates ﾿ 13

3.4 Physiochemical parameter ﾿ 14

3.4.1 pH ﾿ 14

3.4.2 (EC) Conductivity ﾿ 14

3.4.3 Total suspended Solids ﾿ 14

3.4.4 Total dissolved solid ﾿ 15

3.4.5 Chloride ﾿ 16

3.4.6 Nitrate ﾿ 17

3.4.7 Sulphate ﾿ 17

3.4.8 Hardness ﾿ 18

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results ﾿ 19

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion ﾿ 21

5.2 Conclusion ﾿ 23

References ﾿ 24 ﾿