Abstract
Microbiological characteristics of water and sediment of New Calabar, River, Port Harcourt, Nigeria were investigated. Water and sediment samples were collected from three stations {Aluu, ARAC (Station 1; Choba Bridge (Station 2) and Rumuokparali (Station 3)} on a monthly basis between February and April, 2020 and analyzed using standard methods. The results showed that Total Heterotrophic Bacteria in water (THBw) ranged between 2.20 x 102 and 2.6x104 cfu/ml with the overall mean value of 7,313.33 + 1039.09 cfu/ml while that of sediment (THBs) ranged between 3.1 x 103 and 3.9 x 104 cfu/g with the overall mean value of 42,566.67 + 71199cfu /g. The THB counts were higher in sediment than in water with Station 2 significantly different from other stations. Total Coliform Bacteria (TCB) in water ranged between 1.1 x 103 cfu/ml and 2.9 x 103 cfu/ml with the mean value of 1988.89±532.55cfu/ml while that of sediment ranged between 1.3 x 103 cfu/g and 2.5 x 104 cfu/g with the mean value of 9422.22 ±9595.41cfu/g. TCB counts in water showed no significant difference across the stations at p<0.05 but Station 2 statistically differed from Stations 1 and 3 in the sediment. Morphological and biochemical tests showed that 8 bacteria species were isolated from sediment and and 9 specimens were recovered from water. Some isolated specimens were: Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus. sp, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis while Escherichia coli was the only bacterium found in water but absent in sediment. Two species: Staphylococcus spp and Bacillus subtilis dominated the study area. Fungal counts in water ranged between 3.0 x102 and 2.6 x 103 cfu/ml with the overall mean value of 1911.11±67.51cfu/ml while that of sediment ranged between 1.7 x101 and 3x102 with the overall mean value of 173.00±78.52 cfu/g. Fungi counts showed significant difference (p < 0.05) across the stations in water and sediment. Macroscopic and microscopic characterization of fungi showed that 6 fungi species were recovered in water and sediment. These included Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oligospora and Pennicillium species. The species Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavor were found in Station 1 but absent in Stations 2 and 3. It could be observed that microbial counts in both water and sediment exceeded the 1.0x102 cfu/ml and 0 cfu/ml recommended levels by WHO and EPA respectively. Thus, the study area may be under threat and the water may be unsafe for human consumption.
 Keywords: Microbiological Properties, Sediment, Water, New Calabar River, Port Harcourt
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