Aspect of physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis of Kampe (Omi) Dam and irrigation project in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water samples from six different settlements along Kampe (Omi) reservoir, Nigeria were analysed for the level of bacteriological pollution, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, Total dissolve solids (TDS) and water temperatures. There were no marked variations in the physico-chemical parameters along the different settlements of the lake, however there were seasonal variations of these parameters because the surface water temperatures, pH and dissolved oxygen values usually dropped from August to December. Bacterial counts were made and used as index of the level of pollution of the water body. Six bacterial species including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Streptococcus faecalis, Micrococcus albus and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated and identified. Total bacterial counts were generally high ranging from 2.6 x 10⁴ to 3.5 x 10⁴ cfu/l. The presence of E. coli, S. faecalis and Enterobacter species were indicative of contamination hence the use of the water for drinking and washing noticed around the communities exposed them to health hazard. The effect of this on sustainable irrigation and fishing activities around the water body were also discussed.


Key Words: Reservoir, bacterial counts, pollution, irrigation, fishing.


Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.19(1) 2004: 17-22