MICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER SOURCES AND STREAMS IN ESSENE, IKOT ABASI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed at investigating microbial contents of water sources in Essene, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from groundwater sources and streams and subjected to analysis using standard analytical procedures. The results of the microbial test revealed that microbial load was found mostly in streams than the groundwater. Microbial identification revealed total of 17 microbial species which include 12 bacteria and 5 fungi. Bacillus subtilis was the most occurring (100%) bacterial isolate while Proteus sp and Staphylococcus aureus were least occurring bacterial isolates (20%) in the groundwater samples. Bacillus cereus (80%) was the most occurring bacterial isolates and Enterobacter sp (20%) was the least occurring bacterial isolates in the stream. Among the fungi isolated, Penicillium sp (80%), and Candida sp. (40%) were the most predominant in groundwater while Candida sp (80%), Aspergillus flavus (60%) and Aspergillus niger (60%) were the most predominate in the stream water. These results did not meet WHO standard for drinking water. The results obtained from this study indicated the microbiological qualities which call for routine monitoring to arrest the growing influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of microbial loads in the groundwater and streams in Essene community.