Microbiological and Organic Pollutants Characteristics of Umuosoko Stream in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The microbiological and organic pollutants characteristics of Umuosoko stream in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria were carried out. Twenty water samples were collected from five stations of the stream. The pour plate technique was employed for the isolation of microorganisms. Colonial morphology, Gram staining and biochemical tests were used for identification and characterization. The statistical analyses used were analysis of variance and standard deviation. The mean total aerobic plate count ranged from 5.30 ± 0.01Log₁₀cfu/mL to 5.90 ± 3.0 Log₁₀cfu/mL while the mean coliform count was 5.0 ± 0.50 MPN/100mL to 20.0 ± 4.0 MPN/100mL. The Salmonella and Shigella and Vibrio cholerae mean counts were 0 ± 0.00 Log₁₀cfu/mL respectively. The mean fungal count ranged from 2.45 ± 0.02 Log₁₀cfu/mL to 2.77 ± 0.20 Log₁₀cfu/mL. The microorganisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus species, Streptococcus species, Bacillus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus species, Saccharomyces species; Kluyveromyces ranges species and Aspergillus species. The values of the organic pollutants tested were as follows: pH, 6 to 9, temperature, 29^OC to 31^OC, colour, 6TCU to 7TCU, conductivity, 200µS/cm to 330µS/cm, turbidity, 0.01NTU to 0.1NTU, total hardness, 0.2mg/L to 0.4mg/L, total dissolved solid, 360 mg/L to 620mg/L, total suspended solid, 40mg/L to 120mg/L, dissolved oxygen, 4.0mg/L to 5.5mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand, 2.8mg/L - 3.8mg/L, salinity, 0.1ppt to 0.3ppt, nitrate, 21 mg/L to 103mg/L, phosphate, 0.67mg/L to 1.52mg/L, sulphate, 200mg/L to 260mg/L, calcium, 18.7mg/L to 47.0mg/L, while the taste was unobjectionable. The microbiological and nitrate results showed that the stream water is contaminated and must be treated before consumption.

Key words: Microbiological, organic pollutants, characteristics, Umuosoko, streams