Bacteriological and Physiochemical Analysis of Oguta Lake Water, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Bacteriological and Physiochemical analysis were carried out on Oguta lake water from three guage stations; upstream, midstream and downstream used for drinking and recreational purposes in Imo State, South-Eastern, Nigeria. The results obtained were compared with World health organisation (WHO) and Environmental protection agency (EPA) standards for drinking and recreational water respectively. The following parameters; conductivity (30.8 us\cm), colour (90.67 pt\co), iron (0.47 mg\l), lead (0.18 mg\l), cadmium (0.08 mg/l), nitrate (0.9 ml) and odour (unpleasant) did not meet WHO standards while temperature (30.8oC), pH (5.71cpu), total dissolved solids (TDS) (73.87 mg/l), total solids (TSS) (7 mg/l), turbidity (17 ntu), phosphate (0.19 mg/l), sulphate (0.19 mg/l), manganese (0.1 mg/l) and appearance (clear) met the standards. None of the samples conformed to WHO and EPA bacteriological standards for total heterotrophic count of 1.0x10-2 in 100 ml of water, total coliform count and feacal coliform count of 1:100 ml of water for drinking and recreational water. Samonella, Shigella and Vibro cholera were not detected. The presence of coliforms in water for drinking and recreational purposes is of public health significance considering the possibilities of the presence of other bacteria, protozoa and enteric viruses that are implicated in gastro-intestinal water borne diseases and the low infectious dose of these water borne pathogens. Presence of chemicals in water is also of great concern, health effect from chemicals have been difficult to assess because the impact is not acute like that of pathogens, but often cumulatively resulting to cancer and sometimes death. The general public should be educated on dangers of contaminated water as well as prevention of indiscriminate dumping of domestic and industrial wastes into the lake.