Bacteriological quality and physicochemical analysis of the Kalte River at Wolaita Sodo Town, southern Ethiopia.

Objective: The current research aimed to investigate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality status of the Kalte River in Wolaita Sodo Town, southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A total of 42 water samples were collected using sterile glass bottles from three different river sites: Damota (upstream), Kera (midstream), and Gututo (downstream). All the water samples were examined for the presence of heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform and fecal coliform using direct plate count method and membrane filtration method. Standard methods suggested by American water works association were used to analysis the physicochemical parameters of the water samples.

Results: The results revealed that the total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform, and fecal coliform count ranged from 8.9 to 12.6 × 10 cfu/ml, 7.5-11.3 × 10 cfu/ml and 5.7-9.7 × 10 cfu/ml, respectively. The bacterial count results indicated that the river water crossed the WHO-recommended limit of potable water. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Shigella species were the common bacterial pathogens isolated from river water samples. The results of the physicochemical analysis revealed that some of the parameters Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and turbidity exceeded the maximum permissible limits of WHO and other parameters were below the WHO permissible limits.

Conclusion: Therefore, the presence of bacterial pathogens, fecal coliform indicators, and some physicochemical parameters of the Kalte River exceeding the recommended limits may expose users of the river water to the risk of infection.