PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER USED IN STUDENTS’ HOSTELS OF UNIVERSITY OF JOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Groundwater (Borehole) is a source of water for drinking and domestic activities in the student hostels of the University of Jos, Nigeria. This study determined the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of water from functional boreholes of student hostels using standard analytical methods. Data from the study revealed that the physicochemical constituents of the water were within permissible limits for drinking purposes. Notably, temperature (24.30 - 25.8, pH (6.21 - 7.32), turbidity (0.38 - 1.36NTU), and electric conductivity (200 - 560μS/cm) values were observed. Similarly, the level of total dissolved solids (TDS), total solid (TS), total suspended solids 
(TSS), and hardness were 170 - 356mg/L, 300 - 486mg/L, 40 - 200mg/L, and 24 - 132mg/L, respectively. The alkalinity values ranged between 14 and 72mg/L in the water from the different boreholes. Predominantly, Ni (0.0015 – 0.0048 mg/L), Mn (0.0496 – 0.1656 mg/L), and Cu (0.0358 – 0.0971 mg/L) are traceable minerals in the water. Moreover, only Mn concentration in the water samples was above the maximum limits of the WHO guidelines of 0.05 mg/L. The heterotrophic plate count (HPC) ranged between 4.08±0.06 to 6.71±0.05 (log cfu/ml), total coliforms count (TCC) from 3.60±0.01 to 6.55±0.04 (log cfu/ml), and faecal coliforms count of 3.22±0.09 to 6.16±0.42 (log cfu/ml) are suggestive of heavy pollution in the water. Species of Salmonella (31.1%), Klebsiella (24.4%), and Escherichia coli (44.4%) are the dominant bacterial contaminants in the water evaluated. Consequently, the continuous drinking of water from these hostels suggests a prime threat to consumers’ health. This study, therefore, recommends routine treatment of the boreholes to mitigate the health impact of waterborne diseases through a sustainable supply of safe water.