BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LEACHATE

ABSTRACT

Solid waste management is a stinging and widespread problem in both urban and rural areas in many developed and developing countries. Different processes occur within a landfill and as water percolates through the landfill, leachate is formed. This study is aimed at characterizing the bacteriological analysis of municipal solid waste leachate in Benin City. Raw landfill leachate sample was obtained from open dumpsites located at Ikhueniro and Mayomi in Benin City. The bacteriological content of soil samples was assessed and compared between Ikhueniro and Mayomi dumpsites, the samples was also analysed for the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of bacterial isolates. The identified bacterial isolates are; Bacillus subtilis, E.coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella oxytoca. The coliform count was higher at Mayomi dumpsite (3.90 log10 cfu/g), the level of the coliforms; Bacillus subtilis, E.coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella oxytoca indicates a high level of pollution on these dumpsites. Findings from this study shows the government and environmental agencies need to provide well planned and closed dumpsite, as well as good management system in Nigeria to help reduce or curb hazards to public health and the environment.