COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIAL CONTENTS AND PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIAL CONTENTS AND PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
Water is a liquid mineral; consist of two atoms of hydrogen with one
atom of oxygen (2H2+02 2H20). Water is a tasteless, odourless and colourless mobile liquid. It has a freezing point of 00C (320F,
2730K), and a boiling point of 1000C (2120F,
3730K). Water is a universal solvent; it is also a necessity of
life.
In the
absence of water, higher animals survive only but a few hours of days. It has
several uses such as; washing, cooking, food processing, swimming, and among
others. Out of these uses, drinking of water seems to be the most sensitive as
it could have a direct deleterious (harmful) impact on human health.
Therefore,
drinking water should be portable, free of diseases or toxic substances (Beren
G. L., 1991). The problem of providing safe and adequate water is as old as
life on earth. Water can be made unfit or unsafe for drinking if contamination
occurs either by native or by activities of human beings. Perhaps, the greatest
danger associated with drinking water is contamination by human excreta (Forest
1979). In most cases, the population of contamination is hardly severe and is
not particularly detrimental to health.
Thus,
a few substances and microbes that are health hazards to occur in water can
cause illness or even death. From microbiological point of view, the pathogens
most frequently transmitted through water supply ranges from ultra-small virus
to microscopic bacteria and relatively large cysts Entamueba Histolytica. These
organisms cense infection of intestinal tract, when consumed, censing amoebic
dysentery and Giardiasis.
Defective
plumbing for example was the cause of outbreak during the World Fair in Chicago
1998 (1987). Water borne disease cause acute diarrhea often lasts 2-3 months.
The most common water borne disease can be caused by bacteria including typhoid
fever, paratyphoid, Asiatic cholera and bacteria dysentery.
Water,
which is the commonest fluid, is also vital resources for agriculture,
manufacturing and other human activities. In urban areas, the careless disposed
of industrial effluent and other wastes in rivers and lakes may contribute
greatly to poor quality of river water most of the rivers in urban areas of the
developing countries are the ends of effluents discharged from the industries.
African countries experiencing rapid industrial growth and this is making industrial
conservation a difficult task.
The
quality of ground water is the result of all the process and reactions that act
on the water from the moment its condense in the atmosphere to the time it is
discharged by a well desirable limits of water parameters in drinking waters
prescribed by different agencies. Industrialization and urbanization has major
impact on river water. Both surface and sub-surface water sources are getting
polluted due to industrial waste. The relevance of the problem has encouraged
the researcher in carrying out this work.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIAL CONTENTS AND PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Industrialization and urbanization have major impact on sachet water
sources, as many are getting polluted due to environmental activities. The
discharged chemicals interact with river water which is used in the production
of sachet water and alter the PH and other parameters. Water can be
made unfit or unsafe for drinking if contamination occurs either by nature or
activities of human being. Perhaps, the greatest danger associated with
drinking water is contamination by human that are health hazard do occur in
water and cause illness or even death.
1.3 Objective
of the Study
The
objective of this project is;
i.
To make
comparative analysis of microbial content and physio chemical parameters of
water
ii.
To identify
the microbial content and the physio chemical PH value of sachet
water
iii.
To identify
electrical conductivity of sachet water
1.4 Hypothesis
Ho1: Industrialization and Urbanization has
increased the bacteriological content of sachet water in Akwa-Ibom State.
Ho2: Industrialization
and Urbanization has decreased the bacteriological content of sachet water in
Akwa Ibom State.
1.5 Limitation
of Study
This
project is set to compare the microbial content and physiochemical parameters
of water. The research work is restricted to the randomly selected sachet water
companies. This choice is due to financial constraints that will be experienced
in carrying out the analysis of water sample gotten from this selected
companies.
1.6 Significance
of Study
The
importance of this study will help in identifying sachet water quality
conditions from various sources in Uyo. The major activities are the necessity
to provide data and information on the bacteriological, physical and chemical
properties of sachet water samples in the study area. It also gives a summary
of the level of these properties investigated in the selected companies within
the study area.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIAL CONTENTS AND PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
1.7 Definition
of Terms
Amoebic Dysentery: is an infection of the intestine, resulting
in severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the faeces caused by
entamoeba histolytica.
Asiatic Cholera: is an acute infectious enteritis endemic and
epidemic in Asia, caused by vibrio cholerae, marked by severe diarrhea and
vomiting with extreme fluid and electrolyte depletion, and by muscle cramps and
prostration.
Bicarbonate: is a chemical that act as a buffer. It keeps
the PH of blood from becoming too acidic or too basic.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: they are group of chemicals composed of
carbon, chlorine and hydrogen. They are used as insecticides such as,
chlorophenol ethane and also as organic solvent such as, chloro form.
Conveyance: the action or process of carrying someone or something
from one place to another.
Cytoplasm: is the material of protoplasm within a living cell,
excluding the nucleus.
Defective Plumbing: Are the existence of old or incompatible
piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.
Deleterious: causing harm in a subtle or unexpected way.
Effluents: liquid waste or sewage discharged into the
river or the sea.
Floc: a loosely dumped mass of fine particles.
Giardiasis: is an infection in the small intestine. It is caused by
a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia.
Glycolysis: the breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy
and pyruvic acid.
Indicator Bacteria: these are types of bacteria used to detect
and estimate the level of fecal contamination of water. They are not dangerous
to human health but are used to indicate the presence of a health risk.
Organo Phosphate: is any organic compound whose molecule contains
one or more phosphate ester groups, especially a pesticide of this kind.
Opportunistic Pathogens: are organisms that are capable of causing
disease only when the host’s resistance is lowered, for example by other
diseases or drugs.
Perspiration: is the process of sweating or to secrete a
salty, watery fluid from the sweat glands of the skin.
Spawned: to produce or lay
eggs in water.
Radioactive substances: the extra energy, or radioactive emitted by
radioactive elements, comes in three different types; alpha, beta and gamma.
Universal Solvent: solvent that is capable of dissolving all
kinds of solutes in aqueous solution.
Water: this is a tasteless, colourless and odourless mobile liquid with a melting point of 00C and boiling
point of 1000C, it consist of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of
oxygen (2H20).
ABBREVIATION AND MEANINGS
ASTM: American Society for Testing
and Materials
APHA: American Public Health Association
DPR:
Department
of Petroleum
Resources
FMENV: Federal Ministry of Environment
WHO: World Health Organization
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit
WI: Me-Lax Sachet Water
W2: UGV-Jubilee Sachet Water
W3: Water Sample form Akwa Ibom State Water Co-operation
N/A: Not Available
TDS: Total Dissolved Solute
AS: Arsenic
Fe: Iron
Zn: Zinc
Cu: Copper
V: Vanadium
Pb: Lead
Cd: Cadmium
Cr: Chromium
Mn: Manganese
Ni: Nickel
Hg: Mercury
Mg/l: Milligram per
Liter
IAS: Invasion
Alien Species
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