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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