Science Journal of Public Health 2015; 3(5-1): 14-19 Published online September 1, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/sjph) doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.13 ISSN: 2328-7942 (Print); ISSN: 2328-7950 (Online) Bacteriological and Physiochemical Analysis of Oguta Lake Water, Imo State, Nigeria Okorondu S. I. 1, * , Anyadoh-Nwadike S. O. 2 1 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Imo State, Nigeria 2 Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Imo State, Nigeria Email address: sokorondu@yahoo.co.uk (Okorondu S. I.), sylanyad@yahoo.com (Anyadoh-Nwadike S. O.) To cite this article: Okorondu S. I., Anyadoh-Nwadike S. O. Bacteriological and Physiochemical Analysis of Oguta Lake Water, Imo State, Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health. Special Issue: Who Is Afraid of the Microbes. Vol. 3, No. 5-1, 2015, pp. 14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.13 Abstract: Bacteriological and Physiochemical analysis were carried out on Oguta lake water from three guage stations; upstream, midstream and downstream used for drinking and recreational purposes in Imo State, South-Eastern, Nigeria. The results obtained were compared with World health organisation (WHO) and Environmental protection agency (EPA) standards for drinking and recreational water respectively. The following parameters; conductivity (30.8 us\cm), colour (90.67 pt\co), iron (0.47 mg\l), lead (0.18 mg\l), cadmium (0.08 mg/l), nitrate (0.9 ml) and odour (unpleasant) did not meet WHO standards while temperature (30.8°C), pH (5.71cpu), total dissolved solids (TDS) (73.87 mg/l), total solids (TSS) (7 mg/l), turbidity (17 ntu), phosphate (0.19 mg/l), sulphate (0.19 mg/l), manganese (0.1 mg/l) and appearance (clear) met the standards. None of the samples conformed to WHO and EPA bacteriological standards for total heterotrophic count of 1.0x10 -2 in 100 ml of water, total coliform count and feacal coliform count of 1:100 ml of water for drinking and recreational water. Samonella, Shigella and Vibro cholera were not detected. The presence of coliforms in water for drinking and recreational purposes is of public health significance considering the possibilities of the presence of other bacteria, protozoa and enteric viruses that are implicated in gastro-intestinal water borne diseases and the low infectious dose of these water borne pathogens. Presence of chemicals in water is also of great concern, health effect from chemicals have been difficult to assess because the impact is not acute like that of pathogens, but often cumulatively resulting to cancer and sometimes death. The general public should be educated on dangers of contaminated water as well as prevention of indiscriminate dumping of domestic and industrial wastes into the lake. Keywords: Water, Drinking, Recreational, Bacteriological, Physiochemical, Coliform 1. Introduction Water is a clear colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid substance that falls as rain, fills lakes and rivers and is essential for life to exist [1, 2]. It is one of the important natural resources useful for domestic and developmental purposes in both urban and rural areas [2]. Water analysis is carried out to ensure a safe water supply for various purposes; drinking, bathing, swimming, domestic and recreational activities. There are various methods used in analyzing water samples collected from a water body. The most important methods used in small community water supplies are the bacteriological, physical and chemical test. Bacteriological analysis of water involves isolation and count of indicator organisms whose presence indicates that disease causing pollution has occurred in water supply. These “indicator” organisms are bacteria called coliform bacteria [4]. Coliform bacteria describe a group of enteric bacteria that includes Eschericia coli, Klebsiella sp. and Enterobacter sp. They are Gram negative, facultatively anaerobic, non- sporing rods that may be motile. They are able to ferment lactose to produce acid and gas within 48 hrs at 35°C [5]. Although they are generally not harmful themselves, they indicate the possible presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa [5]. Bacterial agents of concern are those that cause diarrhoea and gastroenteritis namely Salmonella sp. Shigella sp., Eschericia coli (E. coli) and Vibrio cholerae [6]. Protozoan agents that cause diarrhoea are Entamoeba histolytica, Glardia lambia, Balatidium coli [7] and Cryptococcus pervum [8]. Enteroviruses causing various clinical ailments not necessarily diarrhoea, but transmitted by water include poliovirus,