Assessment of Water Supply Quality in Selected Private Student Hostels in Ibadan City, Nigeria

Abstract

Boreholes and hand-dug wells are important sources of water for private student hostels in Ibadan, Nigeria, yet localised information on the quality of groundwater supplied to these facilities remains limited. This study assessed the physicochemical and microbiological quality of groundwater supplied to selected private student hostels in Ibadan City and evaluated its suitability for domestic consumption. Twelve groundwater samples comprising five boreholes and seven hand-dug wells were collected during a single sampling round in February 2026 from Apete, Sango, Toll Gate, University of Ibadan and Bodija. Samples were analysed for physical, chemical and microbiological parameters, and the results were compared with World Health Organization guidance and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) requirements. The Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) was used to assess overall physicochemical quality. Turbidity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, chloride, total hardness and lead were within applicable national limits, whereas pH was slightly below the NSDWQ lower limit in two samples. Iron concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/L and exceeded the NSDWQ permissible value of 0.30 mg/L in all samples. Total coliforms were detected in all samples, although faecal coliforms were not detected. WQI values ranged from 5.45 to 16.17, classifying all samples as excellent based on the physicochemical parameters included in the index. However, the WQI should not be interpreted as evidence of overall microbiological safety because microbiological parameters were excluded from the calculation. Given the single sampling round and small purposive sample, the findings should be regarded as exploratory. Appropriate iron-removal treatment, sanitary protection, routine disinfection and continued microbiological monitoring are recommended before use for drinking and cooking.