Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Malabor Hostel Tap Water - University of Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Tap water samples collected from different halls in Malabor hostel were analyzed for total heterotrophic bacteria count, total and faecal coliform counts using direct plating and membrane filtration methods. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 3 to 80 cfu/ml, corresponding to the total heterotrophic bacterial counts obtained from Hall 4 and Hall 9 samples respectively. Total coliform counts ranged from 28 cfu/ml to 126 cfu/ml, corresponding to the total coliform counts obtained from Hall4 and Hall9, respectively. No faecal coliform was detected at 35 – 37°C in all samples even after 72 hours of incubation. Bacterial isolates identified include: Listeria monocytogenes, Erwinia stewartii, Legionella pneumophilia, Carnobacterium gallinarum, Staphylococcus caseolyticus, Enterobacter dissolves, Pseudomonas mallei, Klebsiella pneumonia, Aeromonas media and Lactobacillus sp. Lactobacillus sp. had the highest percentage of occurrence (23%). The physicochemical and heavy metal quality of samples were compared with WHO and SON standards for drinking-water, and results showed that samples were too acidic and contained an unhealthy amount of Aluminum ion (Al3+).