DIURNAL VARIATION IN THE WATER PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND BACTERIAL POPULATION OF MAGADA LAKE

Abstract

The ecological and microbial factors need to be given prior attention due to ecological and health challenges linked with water bodies which include lakes. The ecological factors have the possibility to control bacterial population related with water bodies. Nevertheless, the outcome of ecological factors on bacterial population has not been investigated in Magada Lake which passed through Mountain Top University. Water samples were collected at three sampling station at diverse time points of 12am, 6am, 12pm and 6pm to determine the physico-chemical parameters and bacterial population using standard methods. Furthermore, in-situ physico-chemical parameters such as air temperature, water temperature, salinity, conductivity, depth, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were determined at the point of sampling. Outstandingly, only pH was significant (p<0.05) in contrast to the others. It was observed at 6am, partly 12pm that the bacterial population, phosphate, sulphate, nitrate, magnesium and calcium were compared with other parameters. In addition, water hardness, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand; total dissolved solids had relatively high values at 6am and 12am when compared with the control values. It was also observed that the effect of time-dependent ecological factors were more evident on bacterial population at 6am and 12pm. In conclusion, further studies are highly recommended in order to study the effect of other factors (e.g. anthropogenic activities) that may affect bacterial population in Magada lake at M.T.U.