Effect of Some Selected Plant Materials on Turbidity and Bacterial Density of Surface Water Used for Drinking in Ekiti State

Abstract

Plant extracts of various parts have been used for water purification for many centuries. This present study was aimed at establishing the phytodisinfection potentials of selected plants at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mg/ml) in purification of surface water samples from selected rural communities of Ekiti State. These plants include Jathropha curcas, Calotrophis procera, Moringa oleifera,Hibiscus sabdariffa and Bambara nut which showed appreciable turbidity and bacterial density reduction in a concentration dependent manner. Extract of Moringa showed the best activity (between 2.0 and 5.0 ml/l), followed by Jathropha and Calotrophis (between 3.0 and 5.0 mg/l) while Bambara nut and Hibiscus showed the least activities between (4.0 and 5.0 mg/l) which ranged between 50 and 90%, 25 and 55% and 20 and 40% reduction respectively. From this work, the use of locally available plant materials seems suitable, easier, cheap and environmentally friendly for water treatment. There is need to test the toxicity of the plant extracts to guarantee their safety as coagulants in the purification of water for human consumption.