Microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of fish pond water in ughelli, delta state, Nigeria

Microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of fish pond water obtained from various locations in Ughelli-South Local Government Area of Delta State were carried out. The mean total aerobic plate count ranged from 5.09 + 0.03 to 5.16 +0.01Log10cfu/ml. The mean fungal ranged from 4.65 ± 0.02 to 4.72 ± 0.02 Log10cfu/mL. The mean coliform count ranged from 3.63 + 0.01 to 3.71 +0.01Log10cfu/mL. There was no count for Escherichia coli, Salmonella-Shigella and Vibrio cholera. Bacteria genera isolated included Micrococcus species (29.8%); Bacillus species (20.8%); Proteus species (16.4%); Pseudomonas species (17.1%) and Klebsiella species (15.6%). Fungal genera were Penicillum species (55.8%) and Aspergillus species (44.1%). The mean values ranges of the physicochemical parameters were pH, 5.85 to 6.26; temperature, 30.02 to 30.100C; conductivity, 30.35 to 51.70µS/cm; total dissolved solid, 16.08.to 27.41mg/L; turbidity, 6.80 to 5.71mg/L; biological oxygen demand, 4.85 to 5.30mg/L; chemical oxygen demand, 7.04 to 7.63mgL; salinity, 4.99 to 7.80ppt; alkalinity, 2.22 to 3.78mg/L; phosphate, 1.88 to 1.02mg/L; sulphate, 1.50 to 3.02mg/L; nitrite, <0.01 mg/L; nitrate, 0.17 to 0.55mg/L and ammonia, 0.54 to 1.00mg/L. This shows that the ponds contain microorganisms and chemicals that can cause disease to the fish and eventually to man when consumed.