Bacteriological And Physical Evaluation Of Umuariaga Stream In Umudike, Abia State:- Okoh Chidubem M

ABSTRACT and ix A Reliable determination of the bacteriological and physical evaluation of umuariaga stream is essential to ensure consumption ofhygienic water. The study ascertained the bacteriological and physical evaluation of stream water collected from lya-Nna Umuariaga stream, Ikwucmo LGA, Umuahia, Abia State. The stream waler samples were collectedfrom different stations (upstream, midstream and downstream). The samplesfor the microbial counts -were collected in sterile plastic containers. They were transported to the microbiology laboratory MOUAU and was immediately analyzed on reaching the laboratory. Standardmicrobiology media were usedforthisstudy, which include; Nutrient agarfor the THPC (Total Heterotrophic Plate Count) and MacConkey broth for MPN (Most Probable Number) of coliform. Total viable heterotrophic aerobic counts were determined usingpourplate technique. The molten nutrient agar at 45 °C^ere poured into the Petri dishes containing 1ml ofthe appropriate dilution for the isolation ofthe total heterotrophic bacteria. Presumptive Test for Total Coliform Using Multiple Tube Fermentation Technique. A total amount of100ml ofwater sample -was takenfrom each Upstream, Midstream and downstream (five tubesfor 10ml each, five tubesfor 1ml each one tube for 50ml each) and inoculated into bottles of sterile double strength MacConkey broth ofthe same amount each containing inverted Durham tube for gas collection and detection. Eva bottle water was used as control for each batch. Result obtainedshows that the total bacteria countrevealed that downstream had the highest total bacteria count of6.0 x 108 cfuml while the upstream had the lowest bacteria count of1.8 x 107. The stream water collectedfrom differentstations in lya-Nna stream is unacceptable for human consumption. Based on the above result, it was concluded that water fi^om umuariaga stream cannot be usedfor human consumption.