ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF ONU IMO RIVER

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