Bacteriological and Physicochemical Analysis of Groundwater in Selected Communities in Obio Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria
Journal Title: Microbiology Research Journal International - Year 2015, Vol 7, Issue 5
Abstract
Aim: This research work is aimed at assessing the quality of groundwater in Rumuekini, Rumuosi, Aluu communities in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: Bacteriological and physicochemical analyses were carried out on selected borehole water in Obio-akpor local government area, Rivers state and its environs. Twenty seven samples were obtained randomly from the following locations/communities namely: Rumuekini (nine samples), Rumuosi (nine samples) and Aluu (nine samples). In the study, total heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms were enumerated using the membrane filtration and multiple tube fermentation methods, respectively. The isolates were identified based on cultural, morphological characteristics and a battery of biochemical tests. Selected samples were also subjected to physicochemical analysis of parameters like pH and electrical conductivity which were measured in situ using the pH meter and the conductivity meter respectively. The temperature of the samples was also measured in situ using a thermometer. The nitrate, sulphate and chloride content of the samples were determined using the spectrophotometric and argentometric methods respectively. Biological Oxygen Demand and Chemical Oxygen Demand were measured using the Winkler (respirometric) and titrimetric methods respectively; while the heavy metals’ content of the samples were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: In this study, the total heterotrophic bacteria count for the samples ranged from 0.02 to 2.74 x 102 cfu/ml and were quite high compared to E.P.A and W.H.O standards of 1.0 x 102 cfu/ml for total heterotrophic bacteria. The results obtained from this study showed that coliform bacteria were present in forty percent of the samples analysed with counts ranging from 0MPN/100 ml to 9.1 MPN/100 ml. These values were much higher than the W.H.O. standards of zero coliform/100 ml. Enterobacter aerogenes was the most common coliform isolated while Escherichia coli was isolated from only one of samples obtained from Aluu community. Pathogens like Salmonella and Vibrio were not detected in any of the samples. The physicochemical analysis of borehole water samples obtained from the three locations revealed the following range values: pH (5.8-7.5), temperature (25-29ºC), turbidity (0-0.8 NTU), Nitrate (1.32-7.72 mg/l), Sulphate (0.43-14.8 mg/l), B.O.D (1.8-4.4) etc. The concentration of zinc in the sampling locations ranged from 0.01 to 0.34 mg/l while that of lead and iron ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 and 0.03 to 0.25 mg/l respectively. Conclusion: The investigation in this study suggests that the borehole water samples were within W.H.O specified limits for the physicochemical parameters apart from pH that is below limit (5.8) for one of the samples obtained from Rumuekini; The status of water in some of these locations using microbiological, and physicochemical parameters as indicators can be said to be of acceptable limit for human consumption. However, the results obtained from this study showed that forty percent of the samples analysed had total coliforms (i.e. do not confirm with W.H.O standards); this may be as a result of improper construction/drilling of the boreholes or contamination of the storage tanks. There is need for the treatment of water from some of these boreholes in order to reduce the risk of infection.
Authors and Affiliations
V. C. Ugbaja, T. V. Otokunefor
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP354705
- DOI 10.9734/BMRJ/2015/16860
- Views 95
- Downloads 0
Production and Characterization of Novel Glutaminase Free Recombinant L-asparaginase II of Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica SCRI 1043 in E. coli BL21 (DE3)
Aims: To clone and express, the gene encoding L-asparaginase II (ansB2) from Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica SCRI 1043 in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Further, the work is also comprised of purification and detailed biochem...
Community-Acquire CTX-M Beta-Lactamase Enteric Isolates in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Aim: To study the emergence of the community-acquire CTX-M beta-lactamase genes among the residents in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Study Design: To determine the prevalence rate of CTX-M beta-lactamase genes in enteric multi-resi...
Microbiological and Physico-chemical Analyses of Borehole Water Samples from Private Schools in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria
The microbiological and physico-chemical analysis of randomly selected borehole waters used by staffs, students and pupils in twenty (20) private schools in Umuahia Abia State were carried out. Five bacteria: Escherichia...
The Sero-prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Patients Screened from 2008 - 2013 Attending Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Barnawa Kaduna State North West Nigeria
Out of a total of 472 patients tested, from 2008-2013 at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Barnawa Kaduna State Nigeria, 67 (14.2%) were found to be sero-positive to HIV I/II antibody testing. The test involves 232 males...
Keratin Degradation by Penicillium purpurogenum Isolated from Tannery Soils in Jos, Nigeria
Background: Tannery soils are very rich in keratinous materials such as fur, wool and hair that are by-products of the tanning industry where hides and skins are processed. A keratinase producing fungus belonging to the...