MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WASTE WATER FROM SELECTED FISH PONDS IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, CROSS RIVER STATE

Microbiological quality and physicochemical properties of wastewater from selected fish ponds was examined. Rearing of fish, especially catfish is very common in many communities in Nigeria and the wastewater from these fish ponds are discharged into the surrounding drains. Assessment of the microbiological quality and physicochemical characteristics was conducted within some part of Calabar South, using pour plate and streaking methods. The result obtained from the physicochemical properties of the water samples showed that the pH ranged from 7.2 – 9.3, temperature ranged from 30.4 – 34.30C, Total Dissolve Solid range from 255.2 – 370.4, Electrical Conductivity ranged from 1060.2 – 1460.3, turbidity from 31.2 – 36.2, Chemical Oxygen Demand ranged from 170.4 – 210.3, Biological Oxygen Demand ranged from 100.2mg/l - 165.3mg/l, Total Suspended Solid ranged from 2.1 – 3.6, Dissolved Oxygen ranged from 6.3mg/l - 8.4mg/l. Total alkalinity ranged from 150 – 250, nitrate ion ranged from 20.3 – 25.4 and sulphate ion ranged from 85.3 – 110.3 respectively. The total heterotrophic bacterial count of the samples ranged from 4.6X107 cfu/ml - 9.3X106 cfu/ml. Total coliform count of the samples ranged from 2.3X106 cfu/ml - 2.7X104 cfu/ml. The total fungal count of the sample ranged from 1.2X102 cfu/ml - 1.6X102 cfu/ml. The bacterial species isolated from the ponds were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Vibrios sp., and Enterobacter sp., the fungal isolates obtained from the samples were Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp., The result obtained from this research suggest that there is need to monitor the quality of wastewater from fish ponds before being discharged into the environment since potential pathogens were isolated. This study is of socio-economic significance in the sense that while the farmers are able to raise their fish ponds and derive their livelihood, they are being cautioned on the need to treat their wastewater before being discharged into the environment/receiving water body in order to maintain a stable environment, thereby reducing all forms of pollution and contamination and also preventing disease that are of threat to human lives.