MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATIONS OF SOME STREAMS ALONG ILISAN-AGO IWOYE ROAD, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Microbial and physicochemical analyses were carried out on water samples collected from seven different streams from different communities along Ilisan, Ago-Iwoye Road, Ogun State, Nigeria, using standard procedures. The evaluated streams include Ome, Ogboni, Ogbe, Ona, Orisa, Oruken and Ayanyelu. The physicochemical parameters assayed for include temperature, pH, taste, appearance, odour, presence or absence of particles. Mannitol salt agar medium was used for the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus, while Salmonella- Shigella was used for isolation of Salmonella sp. The coliform test was employed to detect the faecal organisms while the Most Probable Number (MPN) was by the multiple tube fermentation technique. Oruken stream had the highest number of bacterial isolates with total count of 5.73 x 105 cfu/ml while Orisa stream had the lowest bacterial isolates with total count of 0.29 x 105 cfu/ml. The microorganisms isolated include Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus firmus, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. Most of the stream waters were unsafe for drinking as they were of low quality thresholds. Thus, the stream waters require further purification to ensure their suitability for human consumption