Microbial Assay of Otamiri River and Its Sediments in Parts of Owerri

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DOI: 10.4236/gep.2019.78011    509 Downloads   1,651 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to analyse and identify microbial constituents in the water and sediment samples with comparison of the River to World Health Organisation (WHO, 2011) standard for drinking water and Federal Ministry of Environment (FME, 2006) and their public health implications with respect to water quality. The microbial assay of Otamiri River was investigated using Standard plate count. The result indicates that microbial constituents of Otamiri river obtained at five strategic gauge stations designated SSWS1 (Egbu), SSWS2 (Timber Market), SSWS3 (FUTO), DOWNSTREAM (Mbirichi) and CONTROL POINT with mean Total coliform Count of 3.0 × 102, 3.0 × 103, 4.1 × 103 and 1.0 × 103 cfu/100ml with control point value of 0.5 × 103 respectively. The mean Total Bacteria Count was 3.0 × 104, 2.1 × 103, 1.1 × 103 and 0.8 × 103 cfu/100ml respectively with control point value of 0.2 × 103 while the mean values for Total E. coli Count were 1.1 × 102, 3.0 × 102, 4 × 103 and 2.0 × 103 cfu/100ml with control point value of 0.2 × 103. The biochemical identification of some organisms in water was Escherichia coli, Vibro spp., Klebsiella spp., and Entrobacteria spp. The result of stream sediment samples indicates that the mean Total Bacterial Count was 3.5 × 104, 5.0 × 104, 6.5 × 104 and 2.0 × 104 cfu/g respectively with 1.5 × 102 as control point value and that of Total Coliform Count was 6.5 × 103, 2.0 × 103, 2.5 × 103 and 0.8 × 103 cfu/g respectively with control point value of 0.5 × 102. While for the Total E. coli Count, the values were 2.5 × 103, 1.0 × 103, 2.5 × 103 and 0.5 × 105 cfu/g respective with control as 0.5 × 102. Biochemical identification of some organisms in sediments includes: Escherichia coli, Vibro spp., Klebsiella spp., Entrobacteria spp. and Bacillus spp. The mean total bacterial count, total coli form count and total E. coli, were not in conformity with both World Health Organisation (WHO, 2011) Standard for drinking water and Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) 2006 standard for soil and thus constitute a threat to the River; these are attributed to waste dumps and anthropogenic activities around the five stations. The presence of bacteria in water can cause cholera, hepatitis, dysentery and typhoid. The microbial constituents can be reduced by chlorination.

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Fagorite, V. , Ahiarakwem, C. , Ibeneme, S. , Chinemelu, E. , Ukwajiunor, J. , Abiahu, C. and Poopola, J. (2019) Microbial Assay of Otamiri River and Its Sediments in Parts of Owerri. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 7, 155-166. doi: 10.4236/gep.2019.78011.
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