Abstract:
Water is a very important resource and therefore its quality should be monitored to ensure it is
not contaminated. Water can be polluted by plastic material, chemical effluences and fecal
matter. Fecal contamination from sewage linkage into water reservoirs like dams is a major issue
that needs to be addressed because it affects important resources in our environment. Water
contamination by fecal material can result in outbreaks of illness and renders contaminated
water requiring extra processes to clean which may require an additional investment in capital.
This study strives to identify which dams are polluted and whether they are fit for irrigation and
for livestock rearing. E. coli occurrence in the dam water samples helps to in identification of
fecal contamination as the bacteria is an indicator organism that helps in identification of
pathogens associated with fecal matter contamination. The study involved the isolation and
quantification of E. coli in the dam water at the University of Embu. Water samples from 3 dams
at the University of Embu were collected and a colony count of the E. coli colonies isolated from
the samples was analyzed to achieve the comparison of bacterial load among the dams to help
evaluate which dam is most affected by pollution. This study addresses the need for clean and
safe water from the dams for irrigation and livestock use. The study showed the level of pollution
in the dams. The occurrence of E. coli in the water samples from the dams provided evidence of
fecal contamination but the level of occurrence suggested only minimal contamination. This
therefore implied that the dam water requires minimal disinfection in the form of chlorination
before use for agricultural purposes.
