ABSTRACTS
The assessment of microbiological quality of Onuimo section of Imo River was carried out. The water samples were collected once a week for five weeks. The standard microbiological procedure involving filtration technique was used. The results obtained varied significantly with sampling time. The pH was lowest in week 2 (6.24b±0.61) and has the highest value in week 5 (6.63a±0.07), Temperature was lowest in week 2 (28.72a±0.51) and higher in week 3 (29.39a ± 0.66), Hardness was lowest in week 1 (7.79c ±1.86) and the highest value was obtained in week 2 (36.52a± 7.62), also the Total solids has the lowest value in week 5 (250.00a ± 37.33) and highest value in week 1 (269.44a ± 37.91), The result of Nitrate was lower in week 4 (0.16a ± 0.08) and higher in week 5 (0.19a ± 0.10). The results obtained were compared with World Health Organization standard and most of the physicochemical parameters investigated fall below the WHO accepted standards. The microbiological quality revealed that the Total Bacterial Count obtained has the lowest value in week 3 (43.00c ± 8.80) and has the highest value in week 4 (108.89a ± 13.54), the Total Fungi Count was lowest in week 1 (4.89b ± 1.90) and higher in week 4 (8.56a ± 1.81), and the Total Coliform Count was lower in week 3 (90.00b ± 24.06) and higher in week 5 (129.78b ± 34.89). Some of these parameters studied were significantly (P< 0.05) different among the sampling points. Eight (8) bacterial isolates were obtained from the study and were identified as Staphyloccus, Pseudomonas, Proteus species, Salmonella species, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Bacillus species and Streptococcus. The fungi isolates were identified as Aspergillus species, Penicillum species, Rhizopus species and yeast. From the results obtained, the water quality assessment identified faecal contamination from humans and warm blooded animals, sewage runoff and effluents and also human activities around the river as the major sources of contamination. Thus, the water from Onuimo section of Imo River was considered unsuitable for direct human use and it poses a serious threat to the health of the consumers. Hence efforts should be made to treat the water before being used for above mentioned purpose as well as creating awareness on the associated potential health risk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certification i
Dedication ii
Acknowledgements iii
Table of Contents iv
List of Tables vii
List of Figures viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background information 1
1.2 Significance of the study 3
1.3 Scope of the study 4
1.4 Aims and objectives of the study 4
1.5 Justification of the study 4
1.6 Limitations of the study 4
CHAPTER 2 5
LITERATURE REVIEW 5
2.1 Overview of water 5
2.2 Sources of water 6
2.2.1 Surface water 7
2.2.2 Ground water 7
2.3 Water pollution 7
2.4 Categories of water pollution 8
2.4.1 Point sources 8
2.4.2 Non-point sources 8
2.5 Risks of microorganisms to human health 8
2.5.1 Examples of at-risk concentration levels 9
2.6 Microbiological analysis of water 10
2.7 Methods of assessing microbial quality in water 11
2.7.1 Filtration method of assessing microbial quality in water 12
2.7.2 Standard plate count 14
2.7.3 Multiple tube fermentation method 14
2.7.4 ATP testing 15
2.8 Advantages and disadvantages of filtration method of measuring bacterial
growth in water 16
2.8.1 Advantages of filtration method of measuring bacterial growth in water 16
2.8.2 Disadvantages of filtration method of measuring bacterial growth in water 17
CHAPTER 3 18
MATERIALS AND METHODS 18
3.1 Study area 18
3.2 Source of materials 18
3.3 Microbiological methods 18
3.3.1 Media preparation 18
3.3.2 Determination of microbial load of water sample 19
3.3.3 Determination of coliform load by membrane filtration technique 20
3.3.4 Characterisation of Bacterial Isolates 21
3.3.5 Characterization of Fungi Isolates 21
3.3.6 Determination of Occurrence 22
3.4 Determination of physico-chemical quality 22
3.4.1 Determination of pH 22
3.4.2 Determination of Temperature 23
3.4.3 Determination of Acidity 23
3.4.4 Determination of Total Hardness 23
CHAPTER 4 25
RESULTS 25
CHAPTER 5 33
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 33
5.1 Discussion 33
5.2 Conclusion 36
5.3 Recommendation 36
REFERENCES
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
1.1: Risk Concentration Levels of E. coli (cfu/100ml) 10
4.1: Physico-chemical properties of water at the Onuimo
section of Imo River during the period of study 26
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Title Page
4.1: Microbial load count of water at the Onuimo section of Imo River 28
4.2: Percentage occurrence of bacteria found in water at the Onuimo
section of Imo River 30
4.3: Percentage occurrence of fungi found in water at the Onuimo
section of Imo River 32
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Water is an important natural resource useful for domestic and development purposes in both urban and rural areas (FAO, 1997). Water is vital for existence in life and its importance in our daily life makes it imperative that thorough microbiological examinations should be conducted.
The provision of portable water which is free from every disease-causing microorganisms and chemical substances deleterious to health is necessary to prevent health hazard (WHO, 2011). Water can be obtained from a number of sources, among which are streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, rain, spring and wells (Okonko et al., 2008; Kiman-Murage and Ngindu, 2007). Most water sources are unfit for consumption unless given some forms of treatment (WHO, 2007).
The majority of the population in developing countries is not adequately supplied with portable water and is thus compelled to use water from sources like shallow wells, boreholes, springs and streams that render the water unsafe for domestic and drinking purposes due to high possibilities of contamination (Welch et al., 2000; Jamielson et al., 2004; WHO, 2006). In Nigeria, majority of the rural populace depend on well, stream and river water for domestic use.
The bacterial qualities of ground water, pipe-borne water and other natural supplies in Nigeria have been reported to be unsatisfactory, with coliform counts far exceeding the level recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) (Dada et al., 1999; Edema et al., 2001).
In many developing countries, availability of water has become a critical and urgent problem and it is a matter of great concern to families and communities depending on non-public water supply (Okonko et al., 2008). Increase in human population has exerted an enormous pressure on the provision of safe drinking water especially in areas of developing countries (Umeh et al., 2005). Unsafe water is of global public health threat, placing persons at risk of a host of diarrhoea and other diseases as well as chemical intoxication (Hughes and Koplan, 2005).
Unsanitary water has particularly devastating effects on children in the developing world. Each year, greater than two million persons, mostly children less than five years of age, die of diarrhoea disease (Kosek et al., 2003; Parashar et al., 2003). For children in this group, diarrhoea disease accounted for 17% of all death from 2000 to 2003 (WHO, 2005), ranking third among cause of death, after neonatal causes and acute respiratory infections. Nearly 90% of diarrheal-related death have been attributed to unsafe or inadequate water supplies and sanitation (WHO, 2004), a condition affecting a large part of the world’s population (Hughes and Koplan, 2005). An estimated 1.1 billion persons (one-sixth of the world’s population) lack access to clean water and 2.6 billion to adequate sanitation (WHO, 2005; Hughes and Koplan, 2005).
Much of the current concern with regards to environmental quality is focused on water because of its importance in maintaining the human health and health of the ecosystem. Fresh water is finite resource, essential for agricultural, industry and even human existence. Without fresh water of adequate quantity and quality, sustainable development will not be possible (Hughes and Koplan, 2005). The addition of various kinds of pollutants and nutrients through industrial effluents, agricultural run-off, dumping of wastes near water bodies and citing of septic tanks inappropriately bring about series of changes in the physic-chemical characteristics of water (Geldreich, 2005; Hart and Zabbey, 2005). These have been the subject of several investigations. Discharge of toxic chemicals, over-pumping of aquifer and contamination of water bodies with substance that promote algae growth are some of the today’s major cause for water quality degradation (WHO, 2003). Direct contamination of surface water with metals discharged from mining, smelting and industrial manufacturing is a long-standing phenomenon.
Microbiological examination of river water is obligatory for use-related purposes such as drinking water production, irrigation and recreation. A good knowledge of the chemical qualities of raw water is necessary so as to guide its suitability for use. The reason for elucidation of important parameters in water quality assessment may be attributed to the fact that in the overall portability of water, such parameters should not be ignored (Osuinde and Enuezie, 1999).
Innovative approaches towards improving water sanitation and hygiene must be implemented and evaluated. A number of studies conducted in a variety of geographic settings have shown that interventions such as point-of-use disinfection of water and educational efforts to improve personal hygiene help reduce disease prevalence (Clasen and Cairncross, 2004). Thus, regular physic-chemical and microbiological analysis of water at source must be carried out to determine or check the effectiveness of treatment process (Okonko et al., 2008).
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Water from Onuimo section of the Imo River serves as a source of water to people residing along the banks of the river. They use it for several purposes ranging from drinking, washings (including vehicles), and bathing/swimming. Based on the several activities going on within and around the river and the colour, there is question of whether the river is polluted or not. Based on the above activities, the researcher is interested in determining the pollution level of the said river and thereafter makes recommendations.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study only tries to find out the microbiological quality associated with the contamination vis-à-vis the pollution level of the river as a source of water used for many purposes by inhabitants around the vicinity.
1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major objective of this study is to assess the microbiological quality of the Imo River (Onuimo) by filtration technique. The specific objectives of this study include the following:
i. To enumerate microbial population in Onuimo section of Imo River by employment of membrane filtration method.
ii. To determine microbial population in relationship with time.
iii. To analyse physical parameters of the river.
iv. To analyse chemical parameters of the river
1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Membrane filtration technique determines the concentration of bacteria in water. It is then possible to draw inferences about the suitability of this technique.
1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This research work was limited by a number of factors which interfered with the smooth running of the investigation. These include:
- Scarcity of laboratory equipment, reagents and other materials necessary for the research work.
- The infrequent and inconsistent power supply.
- The obvious problem associated with sample collection from public places.
- Finance.
However, efforts were made to checkmate these limitations.
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