Bacteriological quality of water and fish samples from Kainji Lake and the effect of animal and human activities

Kainji Lake is a man-made Lake and is impounded in 1968 to generate hydroelectric power. The Lake also offers opportunities for developmental projects like Fisheries and Irrigation. Lake Kainji receives organic waste through husbandry operations in which the cattle defecate into and around the bank of the Lake. Other sources of pollution include runoff from farms, bathing and washings in the Lake. Surrounding villages e.g. Tarda and Musawa used the Lake as source of raw drinking water and also for other domestic purposes. Bacteriological quality of fish and water from the Lake is carried out as well as that of cow dung by using primary isolation media and biochemical analysis. Physico-chemical parameters of water from the Lake is also determined. Total viable bacteria count and total coliform count of the water range from 3.4 x 104 to 03.8x 106 Cfu/ml and 1.4 x 103to 2.1 x 105Cfu/ml respectively. Cow dung has total coliform count of 6.9 x 105 while fish gills has total coliform count of 1.6x103cfu/g. Bacteria species such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aeromanas hydrophila, and shigella species were found in the water body. Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Salmonella species were found in the fish samples. Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Shigella species and Salmonella species were isolated from cow dung. Physicochemical Parameters such as DO, BOD and N03-N range from 4. 7 to 5.2mg/l, 0.2 to 0.9mg/1 and 7.0 to 9.3 mg/l respectively. This result shows that Kainji Lake is an intermediately polluted water. It is therefore necessary that cow dung used for fertilization of fish ponds should be screened for pathogens before use. It is also recommended that pollution of surface water bodies through human activities should be discourage by legislation on water pollution.

Includes:- 6 tables.;14 refs.