CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND INFORMATION

          Natural water whether surface ground water, river, ocean or lakes contains variety of micro-organisms.  The sanitary quality of drinking water is affected by both variety and number of micro-organisms.  The sanitary quality of drinking water is affected by both Variety and number of micro-organisms available.

          River is fit for drinking if its does not contain any micro-organism that are pathogenic to man.  The WHO (1958) published the international standard for drinking water, in it water for consumption should be free from pathogenic organisms.

          According to Howel (1994).  He defined bacterial gience examination of river as the process of identification of bacteria organisms in the river.  The bacteria organisms are pathogenic to man when they drink it.  Some of the causative agents are singella dysenterae, vibro cholera, Salmonella Typhi, , Salmonella Paratyphi.  Etc.

1.2     AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

          The aim of the study is to examine the micro-organisms in Idodo river.  The specific objectives of the study are:

1.                 To identify the micro-organisms in the  river.

2.                 To isolate the pathogenic organisms in the river.

1.3     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

The people that are using contaminated water are prone to different kinds of diseases.  The  diseases they  suffered most are: dysentery, cholera, typhoid and paratyphoid.  Etc.  idodo river is likely to be contaminated at one time or the other due to human activities like washing, stooling, swimming etc. These activities are possible sources of pathogenic organisms when water or river is polluted it is no longer useful for human consumption and other domestic uses.  Polluted river therefore is source of various kinds of health hazard.

1.4     HYPOTHESIS

H.O   The river contains pathogenic micro-organisms.

H.I    The river do not contain pathogenic  micro-organisms

5.1     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Evaluation of micro-organisms from river sensitizing people on the beset way to dispose wastes so as to avoid communicable diseases that are caused by pathogenic organisms.

To make sure that, the river is suitable for whatever it is selected for, like domestic use, cooking and washing.

1.6     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Only Idodo river in Enugu metropolism is chosen for this work due to time constraint and financial setback.