Evaluation of water quality index and bacteriological qualities of Ossiomo River, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The water quality of Ossiomo river is a great concern due to exposure to industrial contaminants. This study investigates the water quality index (WQI) and bacteriological qualities of Ossiomo river, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected in triplicate from July, 2019 – Dec., 2019, for physiochemical and bacteriological analyses using standard analytical procedures include pour plate and most probable number techniques. Antibiogram test was carried out using Muller-Hinton antibiotic disc diffusion method. Water Quality Index values range from 275.75 – 394.01 mg/l. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged between 2.4±1.1 – 17.8±4.9 ×103 cfu/ml. Six bacterial isolates were found and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella enterica and Klebssiella pnuemoniae. Escherichia coli 19(24) was found to be the most frequent bacterial isolate while Shigella sonnei 11.2(14.2) was least. ciprofloxacin 100%, ceftriaxone 100%, azithromycin 90%, gentamycin 100%, pefloxacin 95%, oflaxacin 75%, cefuroxime 70% and ceftazidine 60% were effective drugs against Enterobacteriaceae infections whereas, augmentin 0% and nitrofurantoin 0% were resistant. There is the need to enforce and implement water quality policy to avoid increase and continuous contamination of Ossiomo River so as to curb bacterial proliferation and water borne diseases within the dependent communities.