MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSES OF STORED GROUND WATER IN THE EKEHUAN CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY

Abstract

The culturable microbial and physicochemical quality of stored ground water supplied to three hostels, the health center and Optometry clinic at the Ekehuan campus of the University of Benin was evaluated. Routine procedures such as pour plate, multiple tube dilution and usage of appropriate meters such as pH meter and conductivity meter were employed. The mean bacterial and fungal counts ranged from 1.03×105 cfu/ml±1.2 to3.27×105 cfu/ml± 3.1 and 0.9 ×105 cfu/ml ± 2.6 to1.97×105 cfu/ml ± 0.6 respectively. Eight microbial isolates; Klebsiella mobilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer were tentatively characterized. The mean pH values ranged from 7.36 ±0.4 to 8.67 ±0.1. It is recommended that the plastic storage tanks should be flushed and washed regularly. This measure would reduce or eradicate the biofilms associated with the interior surfaces of the plastic tanks