ABSTRACT

The microbial and physicochemical qualities of water supply in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike hostels were investigated. Four samples were collected from different sources such as Ibrahim Babangida(IBB)hostel (male), Grace Allele (GA) hostel (female), Administrative block borehole (AU) (admin unit) and Good luck Jonathan transformational(GJ) hostel (new hostel complex). Samples were collected carefully and investigation entailed the microbial and physicochemical qualities such as bacterial count, coliform count, pH, temperature, total hardness and BOD. Bacterial species present included Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia .coli. The Salmonella-shigella (SSC) count mean values were 0 for both AU and GJ, with IBB and GA having mean values of 2 cfu/ml and 4 cfu/ml respectively, Mean  feacal coliform count value ranged from 2 MPN/ml to 13 MPN/ml. The values of BOD, pH, Temperature, alkalinity, total hardness ranged between 0.98 to 1.42mg/l, 6.72 to 7.53, 24 to 28°C, 0.60 to 1.40mg/l, 19.42 to 35.19 respectively. Though the water samples met the minimum WHO standards for potable water, some of the criteria were not met. Nonetheless, if adequate measures are undertaken, these water sources could be perfect as a source of water for domestic and drinking purposes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of contents v

Abstract ix

4

      CHAPTER TWO

2.1       Literature review 5 

2.2 Microbiological  Quality Of Water 5

             CHAPTER ONE

1.0      Introduction

1.1 Aims and Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Literature Review     5

2.2      Microbiological  Quality of Water     5

2.3 Types of Water 6

2.3.1    Atmospheric Water 6

2.3.2    Surface Water     6

2.3.3    Ground Water 7

2.4 Sources of water contamination 7

2.5 Pathogenic Organisms Transmitted by Water   7

2.5.1 Determining Faecal Pollution   8

2.5.2 Indicator Organisms for Faecal Pollution and their Characteristics   8

2.6.1 Physico-Chemical Quality Of Water   9

2.6.1    Temperature   9

2.6.2 Phosphate 9

2.6.3 Total Dissolved Solids (Tds) (Mg/L)   9

2.6.4 Hydrogen Ion Concentration (Ph)   9

2.6.5 Alkalinity (Mg/L) 10

2.6.6 Total Hardness 10

2.7     Methods Used In Detection Of Coliform In Borehole Water 11

2.7.1 Multiple-tube fermentation technique   11

2.7.2 Membrane filter technique 12

2.8     Microbiological methods used for 

            examination of water 14

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials And Methods   16

3.1 Study Area   16

3.2 Collection OF Samples   16

3.3 Microbial Analysis Of The Water Samples   16

3.4 Media For Isolation   17

3.5 Preparation To Inoculation Of Sample   17

3.6       Estimation Of Total Viable Count   17

3.7       Faecal Coliform Count 18

3.8 Gram Staining 19

3.9 Biochemical Identification Of Bacterial Isolates 20

3.10 Biochemical Methods 20

3.10.1 Catalase 20

3.10.2 Coagulase test               20

3.10.3 Citrate test 20

3.10.4 Oxidase test 21

3.10.5 Indole test 21

3.10.6 Sugar fermentation test   21

3.11 Physicochemical Analysis 22

3.11.1 pH determination 22

3.11.2 Temperature 22

3.11.3 Total dissolved solids (TDS) 22

3.11.4 Alkalinity 23

3.11.5 Biological Oxygen Demand 23

3.11.6 Total Hardness 23

CHAPTER FOUR

4.O      Results             24

            CHAPTER FIVE

Disscusion, Conclusion And Recommendation For Further Studies 29

5.1 Discussion 29

5.2 Conclusion 31 

5.3      Recommendation 31

5.4     Contribution To Knowledge     31

References