MICROBIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THREE (3) SELECTED STREAMS IN AFAHA NSIT
A RESEARCH PROJECT
BY
SUNDAY CECILIA GOD’SWILL
019/DEG/EHSM/014
SUBMITTED TO
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT, SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
MAURID POLYTECHNIC, MBIASO, NSIT IBOM L. G. A
AKWA IBOM STATE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT ON THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – — – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of content – – – – – – – – vii
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the problem – – – – – – 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study – – – – – – 4
1.4 Research questions – – – – – – – 5
1.5 Significance of the study – – – – – – 5
1.6 Scope of the study – – – – – – – 6
1.7 Limitations of the study – – – – – – 6
1.8 Definition of’ Terms – – – – – – – 6
CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Historical Perspective of Water-Borne Diseases – – – 8
2.2 Meaning of Microbial loads in water – – – – – 9
2.2.1 Types and Population of Microbes Found in Water – – – 10
2.3 Causes of Impairments in Fresh Water and its Microbial Loads in Rivers and Stream Specifically – – – – – – – 13
2.3.1 Rivers and Streams – – – – – – – 13
2.3.2 Sources of Stream Water Contamination – – – – 15
2.4 Mode of Transmission – – – – – – 17
2.4.1 Microbiological Contamination of Water – – – – 19
2.4.2 Pathogen Contamination in Water Resources – – – 21
2.4.3 The Concept of Indicator in the Determination of Microbiological
Quality of Water – – – – – – – 21
2.4.4 Criteria for Indicator Organisms – – – – – 22
2.4.5 Significance of Indicator Organisms in Water – – – 23
2.4.6 Organisms Used as Indicators of Water Quality – – – – 23
2.5 The Effect of Microbial loads in Stream Water on Humans – – 25
2.5.1 Challenges Encountered in Microbial Loads of Water – – 26
2.5.2 Challenges in identifying enteric pathogen sources – – – 28
2.6 Prevention and Control of Microbial loads in Stream Water- – 29
2.7 Stream Water Treatment for Microbial Loads- – – – 32
2.7.1 Advantage with UV Light Water Treatment – – – – 33
2.8 The Remedial Measures Taken by W.H.O to Eradicate Microbial Loads in Stream Water – – – – – – – – – 34
2.9 The Economic Importance and Benefit of Microbes – – – 36
CHAPTER THREE – MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Materials – – – – – – – – 40
3.1.1 Equipment/Instruments- – – – – – – 40
3.1.2 Sample Materials – – – – – – – 41
3.1.3 Reagents – – – – – – – – 41
3.1.4 Cultures Media Use – – – – – – – 42
3.2 Methods – – – – – – – – 42
3.2.1 Sample Collection – – – – – – – 42
3.2.2 Sampling techniques – – – – – – – 42
3.2.3 Study Area – – – – – – – – 43
3.3 Preparation of Media – – – – – – – 43
3.3.1 Procedures – – – – – – – – 43
3.3.2 Nutrient Agar (N.A) Preparation – – – – – 43
3.3.3 Macconkey Agar (M.A) Preparation – – – – – 44
3.4 Inoculation – – – – – – – – 45
3.4.1 Incubation – – – – – – – – 45
3.4.2 Microbial Analysis – – – – – – – 45
3.4.3 Isolation of bacteria from water sample – – – – 45
3.4.5 Procedures for Gram Staining – – – – – – 46
3.4.6 Biochemical Characterization of the 1solates – – – – 47
3.4.7 Physiochemical Determination of water quality parameter – – 47
CHAPTER FOUR – RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1: Results – – – – – – – – – 48
4.2 Discussion of Findings – – – – – – 50
CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – 53
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 54
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – 55
References – – – – – – – – 56
Appendix – – – – – – – – 61
Microbial Characterization Of Three (3) Selected Streams In Afaha Nsit
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Following the theory of creation, it is clear that water is as old as man. From time immemorial, man has resorted to the use of this unique commodity of domestic and other purposes. Most of our water supplies are from surface water which includes; rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, seas and there water bodies are likely to be polluted with domestic and industrial as well as agriculture wastes. As populations increase, the problem becomes more serious and as such, water can endanger the health and life of human beings because when polluted by fecal materials, it becomes potential carrier of pathogenic organisms (Carpenter, 1977). Wide varieties of microorganisms pathogenic to humans are transmitted by contaminated water. Usually, these organisms are inhabitants of the intestinal tract and are introduced into portable water by fecal contamination.
Water is, of course, absolutely essential to life, not only human life but all life, animal and vegetables. Most of the biochemical reactions that occur in metabolism and growth of living cells involved water, and all take place in water (Camp et al, 1974).
Man uses water not only for drinking purposes but also for bathing, washing, laundering, heating, air conditioning, agriculture stock raising and gardens, industrial processes and cooling water power and steam power, fire protection, fishing, swimming and wildlife propagation and navigation. Natural water contains only not the natural flora but also micro-organism from soil and possible from animals or sewage. Surface waters in streams or pools and stored waters in lakes and large ponds vary considerably in microbial loads or content. (Frazier, 1978), water is broadly divided into three types viz;- Surface water which includes streams, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans (Kelman et al; 1957).
The ground water, well, borehole, many people have defined ground water in different ways: ground water is subtler water that occurs where all pores in the soil or rock counting materials are saturated (Pelezer et al; 1992). The atmospheric water, which includes rainfalls. All water bodies consist of a variety of bacteria and other micro-organisms like the algae, fungi, which inhabit these natural water bodies. Some of these micro-organisms are indigenous to this natural water while others are transient, entering the water from external environments (Pelezar and Reg, 1997).
The generality of bacteria are most commonly found ordinarily in fresh water. Some of which include: pseudomonas, Archabacter and vibrio, these are gram negative, the gram positive bacteria which are found in water include: Micrococcus, Archabacter and actinomycentes (Gebharal, 1975). Tap water, as one of the water sources is mostly used domestically, it is observed that tap change sometime the water from tap will be clear. This calls for determining the microbial load in order to be sure of its portability (Bonde 1997).
The increase in drinking water from different sources especially in Afaha Nsit has made it necessary to investigate the microbial load and content of water. Water is a potential carrier of pathogenic organisms that can endanger human life. Most of the drinking water sources are often contaminated with different pollutants like feaces, animal and plant wastes, making such water unfit for drinking if not treated. The pollution of water with pathogenic organisms and other pollutants can only be detected by carrying out microbiological assessment of such water. Most human diseases such as typhoid, paratyphoid, cholera, ambocbiasis, Trichinosis, gastroenterisis, salmonella, shingellosis, diphtheria. giadia, dracunculus, etc. are known to be water borne diseases (Ewington et al; 1971).
Water borne diseases are those diseases which have water as their vehicle of transmission: these diseases are capable of destroying a whole community if not checked. Therefore, the quickest ways to prevent outbreak of these diseases and to determine the portability of such water sources is to determine the microbial load or content if the microbial content or load is not within acceptable limit, such water sources should be condemned immediately (Fair et al; 1970).
Microbial Characterization Of Three (3) Selected Streams In Afaha Nsit
1.2 Statement of the problem
The availability of drinking water has been reduced significantly due to the current urbanization and road construction experienced in AKS. High accumulation of microbial wastes, discharge of sewage, dumping of industrial wastes, biodegradable and non-biodegradable solid waste in the major source of water (ie the streams) to the rural community has posed serious health related issues. As such there is need to evaluate the sources of water supply (the streams) in Afaha Nsit. Beside, owing to the current incidence of typhoid and other water borne diseases encountered in rural area, this issue prompt the research on “microbial analysis of selected streams”.
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