Mountain Top University Library

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