Seasonal Water Quality Study of Nche Stream, A Water Body in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Seasonal variations water quality of Nche stream in carried out using standard methods. The study lasted between April, 2014-March, 2015. Results obtained revealed that pH of the Nche stream varied from 6.41-6.87 in rainy season to 5.50-6.10 in dry season. Mean values for total solid, total dissolved solid, and total suspended solid for rainy season were 208.32 mg/l, 91.81 mg/l, and 116.50 mg/l respectively, while 139.88 mg/l, 72.47 mg/l, and 67.40 mg/l were the respective mean values for total solid, total dissolved solid and total suspended solid in dry season. Bacterial isolates from the stream include Actinomyces sp., Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Lactobacillus sp, Streptococcus sp., Achromobacter sp., Klebsilla sp., Salmonella sp., Escherichia sp., Acinetobactor sp., Serratia sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Vibrio sp., Shigellasp, Flavobacterium sp., Citrobacter sp., Micrococcus sp., and Pseudomonas sp., while saprophytic mould isolates were Penicilum sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., and Geotricum sp. Levels of cadmium for Nche stream from August to the rest of dry season as observed did not fall within WHO limit. Mean values of THBC, THUB, TCC, SCC, TVB, and TFC observed in the studied stream water were higher in rainy seasons than dry season and high than their respective WHO limits. The ability of cadmium heavy metal to accumulate in the body and the infective nature of the isolated organisms could pose a problem to the locals who consume water from this stream without further purification. There is need to inform the local population on the seasonal pollution status of Nche stream since they heavily depend on this stream as a source of domestic water. This study has evaluated the seasonal water quality of Nche stream, a water body in Imo State, Nigeria.