MICROBIAL EVALUATION OF NKWUAKU AND OGBARU STREAM WATER IN AWGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN ENUGU STATE

ABSTRACT

Nkwuaku and Ogbaru stream water were evaluated for the presence of microbial contaminants. A total number of twelve (12) microorganisms were isolated from both water samples analyzed. Eight (8) bacteria genera isolated include; Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcum aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus Spp.  and Campylobacter spp. The four (4) fungi isolated include; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum. The physicochemical characteristics of the water samples showed that Nkwuaku stream water had the least total dissolved solid value of 210mg/L while the highest value of 270mg/L was recorded  for Ogbaru stream water. The total bacteria count carried out revealed that Ogbaru stream water had the highest bacterial population of 5.1x107cfu/ml while the least bacterial population of 4.2x107cfu/ml was recorded for Nkwuaku stream water. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus  and Proteus spp. had the highest percentage occurrence of 16.66% each, while the least percentage occurrence of 8.33% was recorded for Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsilla spp.,  Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Campylobacter spp. each. Also, Aspergillus recorded the highest percentage occurrence of 40% for fungi while the least percentage of 20% was recorded for Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporium and Aspergillus fumigatus each.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title  page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ viii

List of Figures ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 

1.1 ﾿ Aim of the Study ﾿ 2

1.2 ﾿ Objectives of the Study ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 ﾿ Water Quality ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Water Quality Standards ﾿ 4

2.3 ﾿ Categories of ﾿ Water Quality ﾿ 5

2.3.1 ﾿ Human Consumption ﾿ 5

2.3.2 ﾿ Industrial and Domestic Use ﾿ 6

2.3.3 ﾿ Environmental Water Quality ﾿ 6

2.4 ﾿ Water Pollution ﾿ 7

2.5 ﾿ Types of Water Pollution ﾿ 8

2.5.1 ﾿ Surface Water Pollution ﾿ 8

2.5.2 ﾿ Groundwater Pollution ﾿ 8

2.6 ﾿ Categories of Pollution Sources ﾿ 9 

2.6.1 ﾿ Point Sources ﾿ 9

2.6.2 ﾿ Non-Point Sources ﾿ 10

2.7 ﾿ Contaminants and their Sources ﾿ 10

2.7.1 ﾿ Chemical ﾿ 10

2.7.2 ﾿ Pathogens ﾿ 11

2.8 ﾿ Organic, Inorganic and Macroscopic Contaminants ﾿ 12

2.8.1 ﾿ Organic Water Pollutants ﾿ 12

2.8.2 ﾿ Inorganic Water Pollutants ﾿ 13

2.8.3 ﾿ Macroscopic Pollution ﾿ 14

2.9 ﾿ Change in Temperature ﾿ 14

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 15

3.2 ﾿ Collection of Samples ﾿ 15

3.3 ﾿ Sterilization of Materials ﾿ 15

3.4 ﾿ Physicochemical Analysis ﾿ 16

3.5 ﾿ Determination of Physical Parameters ﾿ 16

3.5.1 ﾿ Determination of pH ﾿ 16

3.5.2 ﾿ Determination of Temperature ﾿ 16

3.5.3 ﾿ Determination of Conductivity ﾿ 16

3.5.4 ﾿ Determination of Colour ﾿ 17

3.5.5 ﾿ Determination of Turbidity ﾿ 17

3.5.6 ﾿ Determination of Odour ﾿ 17

3.5.7 ﾿ Determination of Total Solids (TS) by (Gravimetric Method) ﾿ 17

3.5.8 ﾿ Determination of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (Gravimetric Method) ﾿ 18

3.5.9 ﾿ Determination of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) ﾿ 18

3.6 ﾿ Determination of Alkalinity ﾿ 19

3.6.1 ﾿ Determination of Acidity ﾿ 19

3.7 ﾿ Microbiological Analysis ﾿ 20

3.7.1 ﾿ Preparation and Inoculation of Samples ﾿ 20

3.7.2 ﾿ Purification of Isolates ﾿ 20

3.7.3 ﾿ Identification of the Isolates ﾿ 21

3.7.4 ﾿ Gram Staining ﾿ 21

3.8 ﾿ Coliform Count ﾿ 22

3.8.1 ﾿ Presumptive Test ﾿ 22

3.8.2 ﾿ Confirmative Test ﾿ 22

3.8.3 ﾿ The Completed Test ﾿ 22

3.9 ﾿ Biochemical Test ﾿ 23

3.9.1 ﾿ Catalase Test ﾿ 23

3.9.2 ﾿ Motility Test ﾿ 23

3.9.3 ﾿ Indole Test ﾿ 23

3.9.4 ﾿ Citrate Utilization Test ﾿ 24

3.9.5 ﾿ Coagulase Test ﾿ 24

3.9.6 ﾿ Oxidase Test ﾿ 24

3.9.7 ﾿ Methyl Red Test ﾿ 25

3.9.8 ﾿ Urease Test ﾿ 25

3.9.9 ﾿ Sugar Utilization Test ﾿ 25

3.10 ﾿ Identification of Fungal Isolates ﾿ 26

3.10.1 ﾿ Lactophenol Cotton Blue Staining ﾿ 26

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 39

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 41

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 42

References