ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF IMO RIVER

Abstract

In this study, water samples were collected and analyzed for physiochemical and microbiological evaluation of pollution in Imo River, Imo State, Nigeria. This was geared towards evaluating the microbiological contaminants of the river. The microbiological analysis and physicochemical parameters were studied in July, 2015 using three sample collected at weekly intervals for five weeks. The technique used was spread plate method in which the samples were diluted and a small aliquot (0.1ml) was transferred to an agar plate and distributed evenly over the surface by a special streaking technique. The water pH was found to range from 6.61 to 7.31 and with a mean temperature range of 26.01 to 28.110C other physicochemical parameters monitored including, dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen turbidity, colour, salinity, conductivity, total acidity and some heavy metals. Heterotrophic bacteria isolated include Escherchia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis, and Salmonella spp. On the first and the fifth day, large number of colonies was developed (92 colonies) while the least number of colonies was developed on the second day (34 colonies). The antibiotic discs were used to ascertain the various antibiotic that can be used for therapeutic purpose. The observation shows that the Imo River is not safe for drinking without treatment according to the WHO international standard for drinking water.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                                i

Certification                                                                                                                           ii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   v

List of Tables                                                                                                                          viii

List of Figures                                                                                                                         ix

Abstract                                                                                                                                  x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction                                                                                                                1

1.1       Justification of the Study                                                                                            2

1.2       Objective of the Study                                                                                                3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review                                                                                                       4

2.1       Surface Water                                                                                                             6

2.2       Microbiological Analysis of Water                                                                            7

2.3       Indicator Organism                                                                                                     8

2.3.1    Vibrio Cholerae                                                                                                          8

2.3.2    Escherichia coli                                                                                                          9

2.3.3    Salmonella typhi                                                                                                         10

2.4       Fecal Streptococci                                                                                                      10

2.5       Enterobacter Aerogenes                                                                                             11

2.6       Analytical Methods for Microbiological Water Quality Testing                                    11

2.7       Cultivation Techniques                                                                                              11

2.8       Evaluation of the Method for Enumerating Coliforms                                              12

2.9       Standard Plate Count                                                                                                  13

2.10     Physical Properties of Water                                                                                      14

2.11     Chemical Properties of Water                                                                                    15

2.12     Physicochemical Properties of Water                                                                        17

2.13     Hardness of Water                                                                                                      18

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials and Methods                                                                                               19

3.1       Area of Study                                                                                                              19

3.2       Sample Collection                                                                                                      19

3.3       Preparation of Culture Media                                                                                     19

3.3.1    Nutrient Agar                                                                                                              19

3.3.2    MacConkey Agar                                                                                                        20

3.3.3    Potato Dextrose Agar                                                                                                 20

3. 4      Inoculations                                                                                                                20

3.5       Incubation                                                                                                                   20

3.6       Purification                                                                                                                 21

3.7       Identification and Characteristics of Isolates                                                             21

3.7.1    Cultural Examination                                                                                                 21

3.7.2    Microscopic Examination                                                                                          21

3.7.3    Gram Staining                                                                                                            21

3.7.4    Biochemical Test                                                                                                        22

3.8       Method for the Physico-Chemical Analysis of Water                                               24

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0     Results                                                                                                     28

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation                                        34

5.1     Discussion                                                                                               34

5.2     Conclusion                                                                                               36

5.3     Recommendation                                                                                     36

References

LIST OF TABLES

Table           Title                                                                Page   

 1:   Showing Colony Morphology, Microscopy, Gram Staining and Biochemical               

       Reactions of Bacterial Isolates                                                                                        28

2:    Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Isolate in (mm)                                         32       

3a:   Physicochemical Parameters of Fifteen Water Samples                                                33

3b:   Physicochemical Parameters of Fifteen Water Samples                                                            34

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure         Title                                                                   Page

1:    Heterotrophic Plate count (x10⁴) cfu/ml for upstream, downstream and midstream           

       of water sample from Imo River.                                                                                        29

2:     Total Coliform Plate count (x10³) cfu/ml for upstream, downstream and midstream

        of water sample from Imo River.                                                                                       30

3:      A Pie Chart Showing the Distribution of Bacteria in the Three Strategic Points in

        the River (Upstream, Midstream and Downstream)                                                          31               

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

Water is a common resource quite abundant in life but unfortunately not readily available to man in the form desired. Water serves many purposes in human life apart from being a mineral solvent, serves other unique purposes. The need and role of water cannot be over emphasized because living thing: man, plant, animal and even microbes utilize water from many metabolic activities. Water is fundamentally important to all living things (Ajewole, 2005).

 Water is significant due to its unique chemical and physical properties. Water is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one oxygen and because of the unique nature of the binding; it can be used as a universal solvent. It can exist in three states as liquid, gas at 100⁰C and solid at freezing temperature of below-4% (Nelson, et al; 2002, Mbagwu, 2000). Indeed, water is the matrix of life. The water resources of our planet are the most threatened aspect of life existence. Present estimation of consumable water levels is placed at 1% with ground water levels also threatened by pollution (Tortorello, 2003).

In Nigeria, one of the greatest challenges of environmental managers, hydrologists and water resources analysts has been the problem of surface water pollution. Urbanization, domestic and industrial activities have greatly contributed to increasing scale of pollution of river and other water bodies (Krewski, et al, 2004). It may be predisposed to pollution due to high population growth and indiscriminate waste disposal. Some industries may also discharge their waste water into the river. The regular use of river banks for agricultural activities can cause the washing of agrochemicals during heavy rainfall period into the river (Tortorello, 2003)

Water is a natural resource and is essential to sustain life, it is essential also in health, food production and poverty reduction. Water helps to maintain the moisture of internal organs of the body, maintain normal volume and consistency of fluids such as blood and lymph, regulates body temperature, remove toxins from the body through urine, sweat and breathing (Cheryl et al; 2000). Traditionally, microbial safety of water has been confirmed by monitoring for absence of microorganism of feces origin.

The importance of quality changes in distribution is based upon evidence concerning the frequency and expands of known quality changes and their impact upon human health. The presence of these bacteria in drinking water may indicate contamination resulting from a failure in the disinfection process (Tortorello, 2003)

However, the absence of theses bacteria in water does not necessarily guarantee the absence of pathogens (Krewski, et al; 2004)

1.1       Justification of the Study

Water from the river (IMO RIVER) has been a sole source of water for people around the vicinity which they use for some domestic activities such a cooking, washing and at times used for drinking. The potential for pathogens from human and animal waste present around the vicinity of the river to contaminate the water is very high. There has been reports of water contamination through many domestic activities and livestock manure (Chuku, 2005).When waste and sewage are deposited near the river or inside the rivers, they travel with percolating rainwater directly and disrupts some aquatic lives and also endangers the life of some inhabitants around. The possibilities of such contaminations justify the purpose of this work. This study is intended to identify the possible microbiological contaminants of water and thus meaningful solutions of these problems.

Furthermore, the microbiological water quality which is affected by the form of human activities and which promote contamination of sole source of water in the study area have set out to be identified in this research work.

 1.2      Objective of the Study

1)    To evaluate the microbial load of the river and compare it with the standard or acceptable microbial load in order to know if the water samples are fit for human consumption and for domestic activities or not.

2)    To analyse the water for presence of fecal coliforms.

3)    To provide information to the entire public of the dangers that may occur as a result of the water from the river.

4)    To determine the physical and chemical parameters of the river.

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