Mycofiltration effectiveness in bioremediation of contaminated drinking water sources

Abstract

Most rural areas in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, lack access to clean, potable water. It is getting increasingly difficult by the Federal, State and Local Governments, whose primary responsibility it is, to provide pipe-borne potable water for the citizenry. As a result, most rural dwellers rely on untreated water from wells, streams, ponds, boreholes and rivers for consumption. This study was therefore undertaken to nvestigate the efficacy of mycoremediation capacity of a mycelium-permeated substrate as a useful tool for the reduction of toxicity in drinking water sources in rural communities. Contaminated domestic water samples obtained from eighteen rural communities in Warri North, Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas in Delta State of Nigeria were bioremediated using mycofiltration technique. Statistical analysis of data obtained after a 24 h mycofiltration treatment on drinking water samples revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction or total elimination of heavy metals and microbial load in the water samples. The findings from the study show that mycofiltration technique is a useful, efficient and affordable technology for toxicity reduction in drinking water sources available for rural dwellers in developing countries.

Keywords: Mycofiltration, Drinking Water, Rural Dwellers, Toxicity