| Summary, etc |
ABSTRACT<br/>The quality of borehole water from three hostels in the Mountain Top University were <br/>analysed for physicochemical and Microbiological parameters using standard methods. The <br/>water samples were analysed for temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved <br/>solids, total and faecal coliforms and the immune responses while the heavy metals were <br/>determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric analysis (AAS). The results <br/>indicate that the pH of the water was slightly acidic (4.8-5.4). The temperature ranged from <br/>27.7 and 27.80C, conductivity between 0.005 and 0.006 while the total dissolved solids and <br/>turbidity ranged between 017and 021 and 0.11, 0and 0.15 Ms/c, respectively. The heavy <br/>metals detected were; Lead (<0.012), Iron (0.144 and <0.005), Chromium (<0.005), Zinc <br/>(0.156, 0.190 and 0.349), Manganese (0.170, 0.218 and 0.239). All the heavy metals <br/>detected except manganese were below the acceptable limits set by WHO. The <br/>microbiological analyses revealed a high presence of total viable bacteria in all the water <br/>samples. The borehole water within the Mountain Top University hostels are not portable <br/>and hence proper treatment is needed before they can be safe for drinking. |
