Microbiological analysis of Udo Anwankwo river in Ikot Ekpene, South-South Nigeria

Jonathan Okokon Ekanem * and Divine Jacob Ottong

Department of Microbiology, Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Science and Technology, 2021, 01(02), 005–011.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjst.2021.1.2.0033
Publication history: 
Received on 16 May 2021; revised on 25 June 2021; accepted on 27 June 2021
 
Abstract: 
The microbiological study of water samples obtained from Udo Anwankwo River was investigated. Water samples were collected from three different sampling points along the course of the river and analyzed using standard procedures. The total bacterial counts, total coliform counts and total fungal counts of the water samples ranged from 2.6×105 to 4.8×105cfu/ml, 1.2×104 to 1.8×105cfu/ml and 0.24×103 to 1.9×103cfu/ml respectively. A total of nine bacteria species belonging to the following genera, Bacillus, Salmonella, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Vibrio, Enterobacter and Streptococcus were isolated and identified from the samples, while five fungal isolates including members of the genera Aspergillus niger, Mucor, Penicillum, Rhizopus and Fusarium were isolated. The study through microbial analysis has revealed that the river water sample was not free from pathogens and thereby not suitable for potable use. There is need to put adequate measures towards the control of pollution and proper treatment of the water before usage as it contains pathogenic organisms.
 
Keywords: 
Water samples; Coliform; Bacteria; Microbial analysis; Pathogens
 
Full text article in PDF: