ABSTRACT

Analysis of the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of borehole water stored in tanks in selected Tertiary Institutions in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, were studied using standard bacteriological and analytical procedures, in order to ascertain the purity and portability of water in reservoir to human health.  The results revealed heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 1.9 × 10 < 5 to 2.7 × 20 < 5 CFU/ml for the four water storage facilities at University of Uyo Annex, and Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene. The identification procedure showed the presence of the following isolated bacteria in Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua,  Ikot Ekpene to include Pseudomonas species(34.8%), Staphylococcus species(26.1%), Klebsiella species(23.9%), and Enterococcus species(15.2%), but absence of Enterbacter species. On the other hand, water storage facilities from University of Uyo, recorded Staphylococcus species(31.1%) as the highest occurring bacteria species, followed by Klebsiella species(22.2%), Pseudomonas species(20.0%), Enterococcus species(15.6%), and Enterobacter species(11.1%) as the least. The Values of physico-chemical parameters(Electrical Conductivity(36.20±0.02us/cm), Alkalinity(22.07±0.02mg/L), Total Dissolved Solid(TDS)(18.40±0.00mg/L), Dissolved oxygen(DO)(2.80±0.20mg/L) and  Biological Oxygen Demand(BOD)(2.80±0.01mg/L) recorded in Polytechnic were higher than those in University of Uyo, and were moderately higher than the recommended standard by World Health Organisations (WHO). There was absence of faecal indicative and contaminated organisms in the samples of water from the two Institutions. The high values recorded in this study for some physico-chemical parameters from water samples in Polytechnic suggest poor quality of water from the reservoir and is not safe for drinking. Conclusively, It is  recommended that water quality and storage facilities at the Polytechnic Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, should be improved in order not to jeopardise the health and the lives of students in the Institution.