Abstract

• The aim of this study was to determine the hygienic status of the tube well water supply from Yangon University campus. A total of ten water samples were collected from the tube wells in the campus. Microbiological analysis was carried out at the Microbiology laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Yangon and water quality parameters were examined at the Water and Soil Examination Laboratory, Thaketa Township. Water samples were analyzed bacteriologically for total coliform and fecal coliform counts by the MPN method. The highest total coliform counts of >1100 MPN/100mL were observed in the water samples of V, VI, VII and X. The highest fecal coliform counts of >1100 MPN/100mL were found in the water samples of V, VI and VII. Water samples were then treated with calcium hypochlorite to reduce the contamination of bacteria. After chlorination, the highest total coliform counts of 4 MPN/100mL were detected in water samples I and II. But the fecal coliform counts could not be found in all the water samples after the treatment. Regarding the identification of bacteria, five groups of bacterial species were isolated, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Enterobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. After chlorination, these genera of bacteria could not be isolated from all water samples. Analysis of water physico-chemical parameters revealed that pH ranged from 5.0 to 7.3; temperature ranged from 25˚C to 28.1˚C; total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 8mg/L to 12mg/L. Temperature and TDS values were normal according to WHO (2011), but pH values were out of the WHO guideline values for drinking water. According to the present study, tube well water in University of Yangon campus should be chlorinated to kill and reduce bacteria levels and to get safe water for public utilization.