Effects of Wastewater on Soil Physicochemical & Microbiological Indexes

This study evaluated the microbiological effects of hospital wastewater discharged into the soil environment using standard procedures. The bacterial species isolated were Escherichia coli, Erwinia, Serratia, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Salmonella. Others were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Neisseria, Actinomycetes, Shigella, Bacillus and Enterobacter species. The fungi isolated include Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida, Penicillium and Rhizopus speies. Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus species.were the most frequently distributed (100%), followed by S. species, Enterococcus spp., E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp. and Candida spp. (80%). Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Enterobacter spp. and Trichophyton rubrum had the same rate of 60%, respectively while the least occurrence was seen in Streptococcus spp., Neisseria spp., Actinomyces spp. and Aspergillus niger with the rate of 40%, respectively. The high microbial loads of the isolates and the high densities of the coliforms indicate there is contamination of the soil environment as a result of the discharged wastewater.