ABSTRACT

Rivers are vital and vulnerable freshwater systems that are critical for the sustenance of all life. However, the declining quality of the water in these systems threatens their sustainability and is therefore a cause for concern. Rivers are waterways of strategic importance across the world, providing main water resources for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. The aim of the study is to evaluate the bacteriological bacteriological examination of Amuro ibere river in Ikwuano, Local Government Area of Abia State. A total of 6 Samples were collected during the sampling period with each point sampled six times. The Sampling points were. Point 1 (P1) which was the upstream, point 2 (P2) which was midstream, point 3, (P3) which was the downstream. Samples for bacteriological analysis were collected into sterile clean glass bottles and bottles were labeled before sample collection. Collected samples were transported immediately to the laboratory for bacteriological examinations. The media and reagents used for bacteriological analysis of water were weighed out and prepared according to manufacturers’ specification. Nutrient agar (NA), MacConkey agar (MA), Eosin methylene blue agar (EMBA). The spread plate method was used. Ten-fold serial dilution of each water sample was prepared aseptically in physiological saline of 102 up to 103 and 0.1 ml aliquot of each dilution was plated on Nutrient agar plates in triplicate. All incubations were conducted at 37°C for 24 hrs under aerobic conditions. After incubation and several biochemical and Morphological characteristics were carried out, Seven (7) bacterial genera was observed which include Escherichia coli, Shigella sp, Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp,  and Bacillus. The total viable count of water samples from Amuro ibere river revealed that water samples collected from upstream point ranged from 1.9 x105 to 1.8 x 106, Samples collected from Midstream point ranged 2.9 x 105 to 2.5 x 106 while samples collected from Downstream point ranged from 3.9 x105 to 1.9 x 106.  The percentage occurrence of isolates from Amuro ibere river shows that  Escherichia coli (39%), had the highest percentage occurrence followed by  Salmonella sp (17%) , Staphylococcus aureus (11%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%), Bacillus (11%) while Shigella sp and Klebsiella sp (6%) had the least percentage occurrence respectively. Conclusively, the microbial qualities of the evaluated stream waters were averagely poor, and are certainly not fit for human consumption as they are of low quality threshold. This may be due to direct contamination by animal and human excreta and other anthropogenic activities such as swimming, washing of clothes, farming etc., and thus, require further purification to ensure their suitability for human utility.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of Contents v

Lists of Tables viii

Abstract x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Aim and Objectives 4

1.2 Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 5

2.1 Water Quality  8

2.2 Water Quality Changes 10

2.3 Water Quality Challenges 11

2.4 Biological Indicators of Water Quality  12

2.5 Environmental Significance in Water Quality 12

CHAPTER THREE 

3.0 Materials and Methods 15

3.1 Sample Collections 15

3.2 Media Used 15

3.3 Sterilization 15

3.4 Bacteriological Examination 16

3.5 Isolation and Enumeration of Bacterial Isolates 16

3.5.1 Gram Staining 16

3.5.2 Motility Test 17

3.6 Biochemical Test 17

3.6.1 Catalase Test  17

3.6.2 Coagulase Test 18

3.6.3 Citrate Test 18

3.6.4 Oxidase Test 18

3.6.5 Indole Test 19

3.6.6 Urease Test 19

3.6.7 Methyl Red Test 19

3.6.8 Voges-proskaeur Test 20

3.6.9 Sugar Fermentation Test 20

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0  Results 21

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation 25

5.1 Discussion 25

5.2 Conclusion 27

5.3 Recommendation 27

References