BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER FROM TANKS IN VARIOUS LABORATORIES OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSIN-MA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Water is essential in laboratories for conducting various activities. The lack of a steady supply of water has mandated the need to store water in tanks prior to usage; this poses a great risk that may interfere with authentic research outcomes. This study determined both the physicochemical and the bacteriological quality of water from tanks in various laboratories of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria. A total of f 15 water samples were collected from 5 laboratories using sterile screw-capped 100ml capacity bottles. Some of the physicochemical parameters measured include: temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids. The samples were serially diluted before inoculating unto the appropriate media. After 24 h of incubation, the colonies were gram stained and biochemically identified. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates were also conducted using the disc diffusion method. The pH of the water samples in all the laboratories was found to be (5.2-6.8), whereas the mean temperature was recorded at (29.7-30.1 oC). However, the electrical conductivity of the water samples fell below the limit (0.07-0.11). Based on colonial characteristics, gram reaction, and biochemical tests, the organisms isolated were confirmed to be Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. S. aureus. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more sensitive to gentamicin, while E. coli proved to be more sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The results obtained in this research highlight the need for regular and proper monitoring of the water stored in tanks of the various laboratories.