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No. of pages: 107

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Abstract:

Analysis of the physico-chemical and bacteriological properties of Ajalli stream, Ngwo Spring water, Umuagba Ime-Owa River, Abonuzu stream and Ibute Amaeke hand dug well water all around 9th mile brewery in Enugu State were investigated between June 2009 and May 2010 to assess the extent of pollution of the water due to effluent discharges from the brewery industries around the studied area.

These sites were investigated during the dry season and rainy season of the research period. Standard analytical methods were employed in the study and World Health Organization (WHO) maximum acceptable standards for drinking water were used to evaluate their possible public health implications. Microorganisms isolated include Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus faecalis and Alkaligenes. Ajalli stream yielded Bacillus subtilis (9.0 x 104 cfu/ml) and Salmonella (1.2 x 104 cfu/ml) in the dry season and in the rainy season, it had S. faecalis (2.3 x 104 cfu/ml) and Clostridium Perfringens (1.2 x 104 cfu/ml). Ngwo spring water had B. subtilis (1.2 x 104 cfu/ml), Pseudomonas (9.0 x 104 cfu/ml) in dry season and none in rainy season.

Umuagba ime-Owa river had Streptococcus faecalis (2.3x104 cfu/ml), Alkaligenes (2.3 x 104 cfu/ml) in dry season and Escherichia coli (1.2 x 104 cfu/ml) in the rainy season, Abonuzu stream yielded Streptococcus faecalis (7.3 x 104 cfu/ml), Alkaligenes (7.3 x 104 cfu/ml) and E. coli (1.6 x 104 cfu/ml) in dry season while in the rainy season, it had Bacillus subtilis (1.2 x 104 cfu/ml) and S. faecalis (7.3 x 104 cfu/ml). Ibute amaeke Hand dug well water yielded 2.1 x 104 cfu/ml of S. faecalis and B. subtilis in the dry season, but in the rainy season it had Salmonella (1.9 x 104 cfu/ml) and Bacillus subtilis (1.9 x 104 cfu/ml.

The result of physico-chemical parameters analyzed revealed that; pH (6.0 – 7.04), electrical conductivity (120-600 µVcm-1 ), total hardness (50-170mg/l), total solids (60-480mg/l), total dissolved solids (40- 300mg/l), values were within the WHO maximum permissible standard while dissolved oxygen (DO) (0.07-5.15mg/l), Calcium (Ca) (0.0-2.01mg/l), nitrate (NO3 - ) (0.0-1.02mg/l), chloride (CL- ) (18.36-70.9mg/l) Sulphate (SO4 2- ) (22.25- 141.84mg/l), Sodium (Na) (0.0 – 2.36mg/l) and Magnesium (Mg) (0.23- 4.32mg/l) were low but still fell within the WHO tolerant level in both rainy and dry seasons. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (17.5-88.02mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (8.55 - 71.67mg/l) and iron (Fe) (0.7 - 4.55mg/l) in most of the water examined were above the WHO maximum allowable limits.

The results of the study revealed that most of the water samples examined were contaminated with at least two species of bacteria. Pollution of this nature may be due to both domestic and industrial activities around the 9th Mile Corner emanating from the water consumption. Hence water around this area should treated before use and improper disposal of waste be checkmated.