Physicochemical and Bacteriological Analysis of Water used for Drinking Purposes within a Residential University

Abstract

This study was carried out to highlight the emerging concerns related to drinking water contamination and to assess mainly the bacteriological quality of drinking water supply within a residential university. A total of sixteen (16) samples were collected from specified sites that included tube wells, underground and overhead reservoirs, filtration plants and electric water filtration coolers. These samples were analyzed for both bacteriological and physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, turbidity, TDS). The samples had pH ranging from 6.6-7.8 and turbidity ranging from 0.18-0.63 NTU. The results of these parameters are satisfactory since they are within the permissible limits, whereas bacteriological estimation of the samples was accomplished using the standard membrane filtration method. The coliform count for the drinking water samples ranged between 9-287 CFU/100ml. Supply of pure drinking water, which is free from contamination and bacteria, is the fundamental duty of any government or organization. Such a drinking water supply system helps to promote wealth and welfare of publics and economic level. In the present work, the evaluation of drinking water quality status and possible source of contamination of drinking water within the residential university was studied.