MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL QUALITY OF BOREHOLE WATER FROM THE MINI AND MAIN CAMPUS OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNICS OFFA, KWARA- STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the microbiological and physico -chemical quality of boreholes water from the mini and main campus of the Federal Polytechnics Offa, Kwara state, Nigeria.The bacteriological agents were isolated and identified by cultural characteristics, Gram staining, and biochemical tests.The total number of seventeen boreholes water (Ten from mini campus and seven from main campus) were collected water into sterile sample bottles.The total aerobic plate counts ranged from 1.3 x 10 2 to 5.4 x 10 3 while the total salmonella shigella counts ranged from 1.1 x 10 2 to 2.0 x 10 4 cfu/ml.The total coliform counts ranged from 0.8 x 10 2 to 2.0 x 10 4 while the total staphylococci counts ranged from 1.1 x 10 2 to 2.7 x 10 4 cfu/ml.The total fungi count ranged from 1.2 x 10 4 to 3.5 x 10 4 sfu/ml.The microorganisms that were isolated from the borehole water sample were Clostridium spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp, Shigella spp, Proteus spp, Salmonella spp, Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophilia, Penicillium spp, Aspergilus niger, Penicillium chryhsogenum and Clavispora spp.For the physico-chemical results, the P h ranged from 6.94 to 8.93 while the temperature ranged from 27 to 28.The turbidity ranged from 8.58 to 143.20 NTU while the total dissolved solute ranged from 9.50 to 139.00 mg/l.The alkanity of ranged from 10.00 to 36.67mg/l, while total hardness of the water ranged from 6.00 to 116.67 mg/l.The total dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.4 to 6.3 ppm while the total chloride ranged from 31.75 to 85.00 mg/l.The concentration of calcium ranged from 4.00 to 63.33 mg/l while that of magnesium ranged from 1.00 to 22.00 mg/l.The concentration of Zinc ranged from 0.1192 to 0.5121 while that of copper ranged from 0.001 to 0.277.The concentration of iron ranged from 0.00 to 0.067 while that of Cadmium ranged from 0.00 to 0.0006.Some of the borehole water sources fell below the standards approved by WHO and NAFDAC.The isolation of coliform bacteria in this study is an indication that if not check an outbreak could occur in the near future.Regular water quality monitoring and appropriate treatment measures are essential to mitigate these implications and ensure safe drinking water.