Physicochemical and microbial characterization of somberiro river in ahoada east local government area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/08/2012
Views (431) Download (6)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Physicochemical and microbial characterization of somberiro river in ahoada east local government area, Rivers State, Nigeria

I. C. Mgbemena, I. J. Okechukwu, N. N. Onyemekara, J. C. Nnokwe
Int. J. Biosci.2( 8), 36-44, August 2012.
Certificate: IJB 2012 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

A total of six water samples collected at three different stations from Somberiro River were analyzed for the physico – chemical and bacteriological parameters. The physico – chemical parameters recorded highest concentration in site A except in conductivity while Phosphate, Potassium and Nitrate were found higher in site C and site B recorded highest in Chloride. Almost all the parameters were within WHO/FEPA limits except color which was 20, 195, 35, and 16co-pt in sites A, B, D and F respectively. Turbidity 72F.T.U was above the EPA/WHO stipulated range in site A. Bacteriological analysis of the water samples using standard methods of isolation of bacteria on the different media gave a total of seven genera of bacteria comprising of Staphylocccus aureus, Eschericia coli, Bacillus species, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, Streptococcus faecalis and Salmonella species. Nutrient agar gave highestheterotrophic counts ranging from 5.7×106 – 2.22×107 with 19 bacterial isolates. The coliform forming unit per ml (CFU/ml) of bacterial isolates on MCA ranging from 2.9 ×105 – 1.44 ×106 produced a total of 18 isolates and the SSA ranged from 3.35×104 – 1.56×105giving a total of 12 bacterial isolates. These heterotrophic colonial counts of bacterial isolates in these media were all above EPA permissible limits. Three genera of bacteria, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis and Salmonella species isolated from this river are all of medical importance. They arecoliform bacteria whose presence in water shows faecal contamination. Therefore their presence is an indication that this river is polluted and not good for usage.

VIEWS 17

Abowei JFN, Tawari CC, Hart AI, Garrick DU. 2008. Aspects of the ecology of Nigeria Fresh Waters: A case study on Physico-chemical characteristics, Plankton and Finfish from Lower Sombreiro River in Niger Delta. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management 12(2), 51-60

American Public Health Association (APHA). 1995. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 19th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association.

Blum  D,  Huttly  SR,  Okoro  JI,  Akujiobi  G, Kinwood BR, Feachem RG.1987. The Bacteriological quality of traditional water sources in North- Eastern Imo State, Nigeria. Epidemic infection 99, 429 – 437.

Buchanan RE. Gibbon NE. 1974. Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology; Williams and Wilkins, 5th edition, Baltimore UK

Cabral JP. 2010. Water Microbiology, Bacterial Pathogens and Water. International Journal of Environmental Resources and Public Health 7, 3657-3703.

Cheesebrough M. 2000. Medical Laboratory Manual  for  Tropical  Countries.  Part  2,  Low  Price edition Gopsons Papers Ltd, Noida, India 9 – 35,63 – 70.

David HF, Bella GL, Paul AB. 2000. Ground Water and Surface water pollution. 2nd  edition, CRC press, New York. 96 – 101.

Donovan E, Unice K, Roberts JD, Harris M, Finley B. 2008. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with exposure too pathogens in the water of the lower Passaic River. Applied Environmental Microbiology 74 (4), 994-1003.

EPA 2002. US Environment Protection Agency, Safe Drinking Water Act Ammendment http:// www. epa. gov/safe water /mcl. Html

Harrison RM. 1990. Pollution Causes, Effects and Control: Royal society Chemistry Cambridge . Harrison, R. M. 2nd edition. 19 -25.

Hutin Y, Luby S, Paquet C. 2003. A large cholera outbreak in Kano City, Nigeria: the importance of hand washing with soap and the danger of street-vended water. Journal of Water Health 1, 45-52.

Kayser FH. 2005. Bacteria and human pathogens. In: Medical Microbiology

Kayser KA .Bienz J. Eckert RM Zinkernagel. (Eds.). Thieme, New York. 229-245.

Legros DM, McCormick C, Mugero M, Skinnider D, Bek’obita D, Okware SI. 2000. Epidemiology of cholera outbreak in Kampala, Uganda. East African Medical Journal 77, 347-349.

Le Minor LE. 2003. In the prokaryotes: An Evolving Electronic Resource for the Microbiological Community, electronic release 3.14, 3rd ed.;

Dworkin, M., Falkow, S., Rosenberg, E., Eds.; Springer- Verlag: New York, NY, USA

Nwigwe HC. 2000. Uptake and Accumulation of trace metals by freshwater fish. Clarias gariepinus exposed to drilling mud. Transactional Nigerian Society of Biodiversity Conservation 7, 35- 43.

Obiajuru OC, Ozumba UC. 2009. Laboratory Methods for Medical Microbiology and Parasitology. Eddison Business concerns, Owerri. 48 – 49.

Okpokwasili GC, Ogbulie JN. 1993. Bacterial and mental quality of Tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture system. Journal of Environmental Health Research 13, 190 – 202.

Prescott LM, Harley JP, Klein DA. 2005. Microbiology. 6th edition. McGraw Hill.

Popoff MY, Le Minor LE. 2005. Genus Salmonella. In: Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2nd ed; Brenner, D.J., Krieg, N.R., Staley, J.T., Eds. Springer: New York, NY, USA. 2(Part B), 764-799.

Seedley MJ, Vandamark P. 1981. Marine Pollution: Implication on the Ecosystem. Oxford University Press, New York, 3rd ed. 166

West L. 2009. Water Day: A bulletin people Worldwide Lack Safe Drinking Water, Water Resources 26,115 -117.

World Health Organization 1996. World Health Statistics 29(10), 8 – 12

Yoshape–Purer V, Goldenman S.  1987. Occurrence of Staphylococcus aereus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa in Israeli Costal water. Applied Environmental Microbial Science 55(2), 1135 – 1141.

WHO (World Health Organization). 2008. Guideline for drinking–water quality. Incorporating 1st and 2nd Addenda, Volume 1, Recommendations, 3rd ed; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland.