Abstract

Several water-related disease outbreaks have been attributed to deficiencies in water distribution systems. Hospital water sources can be effective sources of infection. This study assessed the bacterial and physicochemical characteristics of water supply in Rivers State university teaching hospital, Rivers State university medical centre, and University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital using standard procedures. Results showed that, counts of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), total coliform (TCC), feacal coliform (FC), Pseudomonas (PC), and Salmonella/Shigella (SSC) ranged from 1.1±0.06 to 2.8±0.11 × 10³ CFU/ml, 1.1±0.05 to 8.7±0.15 × 10² CFU/ml, 2±0.45 to 7±0.19 × 10² CFU/ml, 1±0.90 to 6±0.12 × 10² CFU/ml and 1±0.10 to 7±0.96 × 10² CFU/ml, respectively. Emergency unit recorded highest counts of THB and PC while Theater recorded highest counts of TCC, FC, and SSC. Three Gram positive bacteria isolated and identified with their occurrence (%) were; Staphylococcus (14%), Bacillus (10%), and Enterococcus species (7%), while nine Gram negative bacteria isolated were; Escherichia coli (21%), Klebsiella (14%), Providencia (7%), Enterobacter (7%), and, Serratia (6%) and Shigella (6%), Salmonella (4%), Proteus (3%), and Pseudomonas (1%). Mean values of physicochemical characteristics showed that temperature ranged from 27.5 to 28.6ºC, pH value 4.9 to 5.2, Electrical Conductivity ranged from 14.150 to 76.500 µs/cm, Total Dissolved Solids ranged from 25.150 mg/l   to 128.55 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen ranged from 4.8500mg/l to 5.0500 mg/l, Biological Oxygen Demand 1.6500 to 2.1500mg/l, Total suspended solids ranged from 0.0650 mg/l to 1.2500 mg/l. The pH values were below the recommended range by WHO, which could be a concern. Additionally, the EC and TDS values seem to be within reasonable limits. These findings highlight the need for improved water quality management in tertiary hospitals in Rivers State to ensure the safety of patients and staff.