Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Surface Waters from Agbede Wetlands, Southern Nigeria

The bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of surface water from three (3) sampling
stations (SS) on Omodo stream and four (4) SS on three ponds all located in the Agbede wetlands
was determined at monthly intervals between December, 2012 and May, 2014. Routine procedures
such as; Usage of relevant meters, spectrophotometric-based analysis and multiple tube methods
were employed in evaluating the physicochemical and coliform content of the water samples. Air
temperature mean values ranged from 28.17 to 32.19°C at station 1 and station 4, whilst, the mean
values for water temperature ranged between 25.42 and 29.11°C at stations 1 and 4 respectively. The
pH values (5.10 – 7.20) ranged between slightly acid and slightly alkaline condition. The differences in
the mean air temperature, water temperature, flow rate, electrical conductivity (2.67 - 140 μScm-1),
turbidity (0.00 – 78.20 NTU) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values (12.15 – 96 mgL-1) were
significantly different (P<0.05, P<0.001) across the study stations. The Dissolved oxygen (DO) (1.20 –
14.80 mgL-1) and Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (0.00 – 8.20 mgL-1) had their values within the
FMEnv set limits 0f 7.5 mgL-1 and 30 mgL-1 respectively. The study revealed varying levels of
culturable coliform counts in the examined surface waters with values not exceeding 13 MPN100 mL-
1. Coliform values were slightly higher within the lentic environments. Sensitization of the communities
residing within the wetlands by relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies on the urgent
need to treat the water by boiling prior to drinking should be conducted.