Bacteriological and Physcio – Chemical Evaluation of Water Treated with Seed Powder of <i>Moringa oleifera</i>

Abstract

Bacteriological and physico-chemical evaluation of water coagulated with Moringa oleifera seed powder preparations on Challawa river water intake station was conducted for a period of ten months (November, 2004 – August, 2005). Four graded doses of M. oleifera seed powder suspension (800mg/L, 880mg/L, 960mg/L and 1040mg/L) were employed for water treatment using standard methods. Results of bacteriological analysis on raw water samples using 9 – tube, 3 dilution technique, coliform estimations ranged between 150MPN/100ml and 1100MPN/100MPN and faecal coliform 86 MPN/100ml and 171 MPN/100ml, while M. oleifera treated water samples had counts ranging between 43MPN/100ml and 460 /100ml as well as 33MPN/100ml and 171 MPN/100ml for coliforms and faecal coliforms respectively. Aerobic mesophilic bacterial count on raw and M. oleifera treated water samples showed a range of 2.5 x 103 cfu/ml to 9.3x103cfu/ml and 1.0x101cfu/ml to 9.3 x 102 cfu/ml respectively.  Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Salmonella spp, Klebsiella spp and Shigella spp were detected in the raw water. Results of physico – chemical parameters of raw water samples from Challawa showed that turbidity ranged between 384NTU and 898 NTU, alkalinity 45mg/L and 70mg/L, pH 6.8, temperature 18oC and 25oC, sulphate ions 89mg/L and 195mg/L, nitrate ions 45mg/L and 162.5mg/L, phosphate ions 0.92 mg/L and
12.25mg/L Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 5.6mg/L and 38.4mgl, 5 – day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) 0.8mgl and 12mg/L. M. oleifera treated water samples had values for turbidity fluctuating between 14 NTU and 25NTU, alkalinity 30 mg/L and 43 mg/L, pH 7.0 and 7.2, temperature 20^oC and 27^oC, sulphate ions 19mg/L and 68mg/L, nitrate ions 24 mg/L and 68.0mg/L and phosphate ions 0.33 mg/L and 1.62mg/L. Statistical analysis of the results revealed significant difference between the varying seed powder doses in relation to bacterial recovery and most of the physico – chemical parameters at P<0.05. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to water sanitation and human health and some recommendations presented.

Keywords: Bacteriology, Challawa, Physico-chemistry, Seed, Water treatment