Aspects of health-related microbiology of the Subin, an urban river in Kumasi, Ghana.

Obiri-Danso, K. and Weobong, C. A. A. and Jones, Keith (2005) Aspects of health-related microbiology of the Subin, an urban river in Kumasi, Ghana. Journal of Water and Health, 3. pp. 69-76.

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of urban waste, sewage and other human centred activities on the microbiological quality of the river Subin, which flows through the metropolis of Kumasi, Ghana, and serves as drinking water for communities downstream. Three sites, Racecourse, Asafo and Asago, on the Subin were monitored over a year for total coliforms, faecal coliforms, enterococci and biochemical oxygen demand. Bacterial indicator numbers (geometric mean 100ml−1) varied from 1.61×109 to 4.06×1013 for total coliforms, 9.75×108 to 8.98×1012 for faecal coliforms and 1.01×102 to 6.57×106 for enterococci. There was a consistent increase in bacterial loading as the river flows from the source (Racecourse) through Kumasi. Bacterial numbers were significantly (p≤0.05) higher during the rainy season compared with the dry (harmattan) season. The biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 8mgl−1 at the source of the river to 419mgl−1 at Asago; none of the sites achieved internationally accepted standards for water quality. The River Subin becomes grossly polluted as it flows through Kumasi and at Asago, a rural community downstream of Kumasi that abstracts water from the river for drinking, this probably contributes to the observed high levels of diarrhoeal disease.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Water and Health
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2725
Subjects:
?? infectious diseaseswater science and technologypublic health, environmental and occupational healthmicrobiology (medical)waste management and disposalqh301 biology ??
ID Code:
10413
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
15 Jul 2008 07:50
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 09:15