ABSTRACT
This research is the assessment of microbiological quality of Onu Imo River. The aim of the research was to evaluate the microbial contaminants of water. Samples of this research were collected at three strategic points for five days intervals. The standard microbiological method used was pour plate technique; standard analytical method was used to determine the physiochemical analysis. The research identified five bacteria isolates, Echerichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella spp. Enterobacter aerogenes, Streptococus faecalis. On the first, second, third and fifth day the heterotrophic count observed and recorded. It was recorded that on the fifth day the heterotrophic count was lower than the first day. The result of this analysis indicated that the water quality is unsatisfactorily at all sampling sites.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Contents v
Abstract x
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 Scope of Study 3
1.2 Justification
3
1.3 Aims
and Objectives of the Study 3
CHAPTER
TWO
2.0 LITERATURE
REVIEW 5
2.1 Water
5
2.2 Sources
of Water 5
2.3 Surface
Water 6
2.3.1 Sources
of Surface Water Pollution 6
2.3.2 Survival
of pathogens in surface water (Rivers) 8
2.3.3 Transport
in Surface Water (river) 8
2.3.4 Evaluating
the Growth Potential of Pathogenic Bacteria in Surface Water (River) 10
2.4 Bacteriological
Analysis of Water (e.g. river) 11
2.5 Microbiological
Analysis of Water 11
2.6 Indicator
Organisms 13
2.6.1 Coliforms
13
2.6.1.1
Faecal coliforms 15
2.6.1.2
Escherichia coli 15
2.6.1.3 Faecal streptococci 18
2.6.1.4 Clostridium perfringes 19
2.7 Other
indicators 20
2.8 Methods
of Assessing Microbial Quality of Water 21
2.8.1 Most
Probable Number Technique (MPN) 21
2.8.2 Membrane
Filtration Method 23
2.8.3 Presence
– Absence Tests 24
2.8.4 Colilert
Defined Substrate Test 24
2.8.5 Molecular
Techniques 25
2.8.6 Choice
of method 25
2.8.7 Multiple
Tube (Most Profitable Number) Tests 27
2.9 Contaminants
in Water 28
2.9.1 Waterborne
Pathogens/Microbial contaminants 29
2.9.2 Radiological
Contaminants 30
2.9.3 Organic
Chemical Contaminants 31
2.9.4 Inorganic
contaminants 32
2.10 Water
Treatment and Purification 33
2.10.1 Sedimentation 34
2.10.2 Aeration 34
2.10.3 Coagulation/Flocculation 34
2.10.4 Softening 35
2.10.5 Filtration 35
2.10.6 Adsorption 35
2.10.7 Chlorination 35
2.10.8 Ozonation (Ozone Oxidation) 36
2.11 Sources
of Microbial Growth in Water 36
2.12 Risks
of Microorganism to Human Health 37
2.13 Examples
of At-risk Concentration Levels 38
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 MATERIALS
AND METHODOLOGY 40
3.1 Background
of Study 40
3.2 Sample
Collection 40
3.3 Microbiological
Methods 40
3.3.1 Media
preparation 40
3.3.2 Nutrient Agar (NA) 41
3.3.3 MacConkey
Agar (MCA) 41
3.3.4 Inoculation
41
3.3.5 Incubation
42
3.4 Enumeration
of Fungi and bacteria 42
3.5 Determination
of Bacterial and Fungal Flora of the Water Samples 43
3.5.1 Isolation
43
3.5.2 Identification
and characteristics of Isolates 43
3.5.3 Cultural
examination 43
3.5.4 Microscope
examination 44
3.5.5 Gram
Staining 44
3.5.6 Lactophenol
Cotton Blue Stain 44
3.5.7 Test
for Motility (Stab Culture Technique) 44
3. 5.8 Catalase
Production Test 45
3.5.9 Oxidase
Test 45
3.5.10 Coagulase
Test 45
3.6 Test
for Coliforms 46
3.6.1 (Multiple Tube Technique/Most
Probable Number) 46
3.6.2 Presumptive
test 46
3.6.3 Confirm
Test 47
3.6.4 Complete
Test 47
3.7 Methods
for the Physio-Chemical Analysis of Water 47
3.7.1 pH 47
3.7.2 Determination
of conductivity 48
3.7.3 Determination
Dissolved Oxygen 48
3.7.4 Determination
of Calcium 48
3.7.5 Determination
of Acidity 48
3.7.6 Determination
of Chloride 49
3.7.7 Determination
of Sulphate 49
3.7.8 Determination
of Nitrate 50
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION 51
4.1 Results
51
4.2 Discussion
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Water is a common
quite abundant in nature but unfortunately not readily available to man in the
form desired. Water is fundamentally important to all plants, animals and man.
(Ajewole, 2005).
Water is essential
for life and life evolved in Water. Water is significant due to its unique
chemical and physical properties. Water is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and
one of oxygen and because of the unique nature of the binding; water is a
solvent for many minerals and can be referred to as a universal solvent. It can
exist in threes status as liquid, gas (at 100⁰c) and as solid
(at freezing temperature of below – 4% (Nelson, et al., 2002, Mbagwu, 2000). Water is the matrix of life.
All biological reactions occur in Water and are the most versatile chemical
formed within any metabolizing cell (Uriah, 1998).
Since the
beginning of recorded history, Water has been recognized as a potential carrier
of diseases. The connection between a fresh water supply and the health of an
urban population was recognized by the time of the Roman Empire (27.B.C).
Prescott et al, 2002).
The important use
of Water cannot be over emphasized. Water constitutes up to 70 – 80% by weight
of an eukaryotic cell and profoundly influences all molecular interaction in
biological systems. (Nelson, 2002, Prescott et
al., 2002).
The need for
determining the suitability of water for drinking and bathing purposes has been
recognized since 1855 when snow and Budd related outbreaks of Typhoid fever and
Cholera to water contaminated with faecal wastes (Moore, 1974). It is
associated with poor water supply equalled more than 2 billion cases of
diseases, with an annual death toll of 2.26 billion. (WHO, 2014).
Recently,
according to the United Nations (UN) more than 5 million people die annually
first from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation. The
major problems of safe drinking water are those of availability and quality
(Ajewole, 2005).
Generally the
sources of water can be grouped into three namely; rain, surface (which include
river water, stream and sea water), underground water and ground water
(including well water and borehole water) (Oyebode, 2005, Ajewole, 2005). The
first key step in providing safe drinking water is the selection of the best
available source of water.
Water is an
important constituent of biotic community and it plays a significant role in
the continuity of life due to its unique qualities (Pat, 1992; Kegley and Andrews,
1998; Narayana, 20009). Large quantity of water is needed for irrigation, power
generation, recreation, industrial and municipal purposes. The largest water
requirement is for municipal use but the standard of purity required for this
purpose is quite different from that demanded for industrial and commercial
use. (Bhatia, 2009). Clean, fresh water is necessary for drinking, bathing,
swimming and food processing. Land uses generating physical, biological and
chemical pollution that jeopardize water quality. Although some water pollution
may occur naturally such as eroding stream banks, most water pollutants are the
result of human activities (Daniels, and Daniels, 2003; Akintola and Amadi,
2003). The impact of such human health
is quite enormous (Njoku and Osinlu, 2007: Chukwu, 2008).
In Ọnu Imo Local
Government Area, Ọnu Imo River and underground water supply from private
boreholes are the main sources of water for domestic and other uses, especially
when the public water supply becomes epileptic. Ọnu Imo river drains areas of
diverse geology, soils and land use, and like other surface water, the river is
liable to pollution from the atmospheres and also form the composition of soils
and rocks through which the surface basin filters down into rivers. Since Ọnu
Imo L.G.A urban and it’s environ depends partly on water from Ọnu Imo River for
their domestic uses, there is need to access the quality of the river water.
Also of importance are the influence of urban land use activities and seasonal
variation on the quality of the water.
1.1 SCOPE OF STUDY
Water from Ọnu Imo
section of the Imo River serves as a source of water to people residing along
the banks of the river. Because of the usefulness of this source of water, it
is important to analyse the microbiological quality to establish its safety for
use.
1.2 JUSTIFICATION
Pour plate
technique determines the concentration of bacteria in water. It is then
possible to draw inferences about the suitability of the water for use. This
process is used to routinely confirm that water is safe for human consumption,
bathing and recreational uses.
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objective and
aims of the microbiological quality of Ọnu Imo river in Onu Imo L.G.A Imo State by Pour Plate technique
includes:
i.
To isolate and identify bacteria present
in the river.
ii.
To isolate and identify fungi present in
the river.
iii.
To determine physical and chemical
parameters of the river.
iv.
To quantify the bacteria population
present in the river.
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