Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Authors
1 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Rivers State, Nigeria
2 Design and Fabrication Section, Value Addition Research Division, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
3 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Rivers state, Nigeria
Abstract
The effect of storm water runoff microbiological pollution loads on surface water was studied. Runoff samples were collected from tarred road around the faculty buildings and from a primary drain in the Rivers State University campus and labelled sample points A and B respectively. Water sample from downstream and upstream of Eagle Island River were also collected and labelled C and D respectively. Sampling was done using standard methods in the months of August, September, and October. Microbiological characteristics including total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), total coliform bacteria (TCB), and total fecal coliform bacteria (TFCB) were analyzed. THB analysis of the water samples revealed least count in the month of August (1.00 x 103 cfu/ml) at sampling point B and highest count in the month of October (5.10x 104 cfu/ml) at sampling point D. While TCB counts were least (1.30 x 10 cfu/ml) and highest (3.40x 10 cfu/ml) at points B and D in the months of October and September respectively. TFCB count was highest in the month of October at point B, and unlike THB and TCB, the TFCB counts had little dependence on rainfall depth. These results indicate that the impact of the university campus runoff on the microbial characteristics of the Eagle Island River is minimal. However, the primary drain of the university could be infiltrated with septic tank leakages. Also, that the Eagle Island River poses a medium to high potential health risk for users.
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