| dc.description.abstract | Wastewater discharges in river water is a major source of fecal microorganisms and poor water quality. Most important bacterial diseases are transmitted through water. River Kibos water quality is constantly changing due to waste water discharge from industries and the surrounding agricultural farms and settlements. Toxic wastes, chemicals and pathogens in the river water pose health risks to people using river water for drinking and recreation activities. Information on the effects of the season, water level, degree of eutrophication on physicochemical and microbial parameters of river Kibos is limited. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical, bacterial and fungal parameters of River Kibos water. Specific objectives were to determine physicochemical parameters (pH, DO, temperature, turbidity, TDS, Nitrates, phosphates, BOD, ORP, Specific conductivity, COD and salinity), to characterise the fungi and bacteria of River Kibos water, to determine the fungal and bacterial population, and to determine the relationship between physicochemical and microbial parameters. Water samples (72) were collected for a period of 2 months three times per month from the river at four sampling sites randomly selected for wet (April to May 2019) and dry (February to March-2019) season in triplicates: The sites were Katieno I, Katieno II, Kotunga and Kibos Prison Bridge. The water was drawn slightly below the surface near the river edge. The water samples were preserved in an ice box at 4˚C to avoid destabilisation and fixed using acidic Lugols solution during transportation to the laboratory for analysis(You need to explain a bit how the samples were handled before the bacteria culturing)Bacteria were cultured using Nutrient Agar while fungi were cultured using Potatoe Dextrose Agar. Identification of bacteria and fungi was done using the standard microbiological techniques. Microbial count was determined by colony counter. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, DO, ORP, salinity, turbidity, specific conductivity, pH) were determined insitu by multiparameter instrument while nitrates, Phosphates, COD and BOD), were determined at the Maseno University microbiology laboratory. Data on physicochemical and microbial parameters was subjected to analysis of variance. Means were separated and compared using Pearson’s LSD at p≤0.05. Physicochemical parameters for dry season were: pH 7.4633, turbidity 249.92NTU, COD 0.83mg/l, NO - 3 3.623mg/l and PO - 4 2.4958.Wet seasons were; pH 11.0017, turbidity 341.58 NTU, COD 0.68 mg/l, NO - 3 3.89 mg/l and PO 4- 3.6625mg/l.Nine bacteria; Klebsiella spp, E.coli, Shigella spp, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeriginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella flexneri, Proteus spp and Staphylococcus spp. And Fungi ;Alternaria tenuissima, Aspergillus tubingensis, Penicillium citrinum and Penicillium crustosum. Bacterial and fungal counts in wet season was 50.25 and 141 cfu/ml respectively while for wet season were 12.5 and 51.33 cfu/ml respectively. The parameters were above the WHO and NEMA limits. The findings indicate that the water is polluted and hence a potential threat to human health. The water should be treated before human consumption. | en_US |
