African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (9), pp. 732-737, 2 May 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Study of the bacteriological and physicochemical indicators of pollution of surface waters in Zaria, Nigeria

Vincent N. Agbogu¹, Veronica J. Umoh¹*, Charles A. Okuofu², Stella I. Smith³ and Joseph B. Ameh¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

²Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

³Genetics Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: veroumoh@yahoo.com.  Tel: 2348036053022.

Accepted 7 November, 2005

This study investigates the pollution level of surface waters in Zaria, Nigeria. The bacteriological and physicochemical analyses performed were in accordance with standard procedures. Out of 228 samples from different sites, 128 (56.1%) had counts higher than the standards. Samaru stream was the most polluted. The frequency of contamination of samples with Escherichia coli O157 was only 2.2%. There was a positive correlation between faecal coliform count with most of the physicochemical parameters. The use of the surface waters as raw water for drinking, irrigation of food crops for raw consumption and for recreational activities may be hazardous. The study therefore, stresses on the need to control the faecal pollution of the bodies of water.

Key word: Surface waters, indicators of pollution, Escherichia coli O157.