Assessment of Water Quality in Asa River (Nigeria) and Its Indigenous Clarias gariepinus Fish

Olatunji M. Kolawole, Kolawole T. Ajayi, Albert B. Olayemi and Anthony I. Okoh
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Olatunji M. Kolawole: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, King William’s Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa
Kolawole T. Ajayi: Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria
Albert B. Olayemi: Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria
Anthony I. Okoh: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, King William’s Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Water is a valued natural resource for the existence of all living organisms. Management of the quality of this precious resource is, therefore, of special importance. In this study river water samples were collected and analysed for physicochemical and bacteriological evaluation of pollution in the Unity Road stream segment of Asa River in Ilorin, Nigeria. Juvenile samples of Clarias gariepinus fish were also collected from the experimental Asa River and from the control Asa Dam water and were analysed for comparative histological investigations and bacterial density in the liver and intestine in order to evaluate the impact of pollution on the aquatic biota. The water pH was found to range from 6.32 to 6.43 with a mean temperature range of 24.3 to 25.8 °C. Other physicochemical parameters monitored including total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values exceeded the recommended level for surface water quality. Results of bacteriological analyses including total heterotrophic count, total coliform and thermotolerant coliform counts revealed a high level of faecal pollution of the river. Histological investigations revealed no significant alterations in tissue structure, but a notable comparative distinction of higher bacterial density in the intestine and liver tissues of Clarias gariepinus from Asa River than in those collected from the control. It was inferred that the downstream Asa River is polluted and its aquatic biota is bacteriologically contaminated and unsafe for human and animal consumption.

Keywords: Asa River; physicochemical parameters; histological; water quality; pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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