The quality of most roof-harvested rainwater obtained from most rural communities with poor access to potable water has become a major pitfall in the longevity of the populace. Five different clean catch of the rainwater were collected from three different tertiary institutions namely Hezekiah University, Umudi, Nkwerre, Kingsley Ozumba, Mbadiwe University, Ideato Imo State and College of Health Technology, Amaigbo, Imo State. In situ parameters were measured and the other batch was aseptically transported to the laboratory. Quality indices were determined using standard reagents and methodologies. The pH of the rainwater samples obtained from roofs at the College of Health Technology was 6.4 and 6.6 for the hostel and canteen respectively. The electrical conductivity of samples obtained from the Hezekiah University hostel section was 69.1 µS/cm and 110.56 µS/cm for the canteen. The rainwater samples obtained from Hezekiah University had a faecal composition of 3.0 MPN/100mL and 7.4 MPN/100mL for the hostel and canteen section respectively while the samples obtained from K.O. Mbadiwe University had a coliform concentration of 6.1 and 7.4 MPN/100ml for the hostel and canteen respectively. The bacterial isolates obtained from the HezUni female hostel harvested rainwater in March were E. coli, Citrobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp., Shigella sp. and Aerobacter sp. In contrast, the canteen-harvested rainwater had Shigella sp., E. coli, Staphylococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. The presence of coliforms in most of the rainwater available to students in tertiary institutions in the Orlu zone further defeats the classification of these sources as potable. There is a need for the universities to intensify the call for the provision and monitoring of rural water supplies as a roadmap for stemming the tides of water-borne diseases.

Keywords: Rainwater, Potable water, Roof harvested, Tertiary institutions, Quality indices, Water-borne diseases, Quality proxies, Most probable number, Reagents, Coliform concentration.

[1] Adeyeye, J.A., Akintan, O.B., & Adedokun, T. (2019). Physicochemical characteristics of harvested rainwater under different rooftops in Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 23(11): 2003–2008.

[2] Igbinosa, I.H., & Aighewi, I.T. (2017). Assessment of the physicochemical and heavy metal qualities of rooftop harvested rainwater in a rural community. Global Challenges, 1(6): 1700011.

[3] Nwogu, F.U., Ubuoh, E.A., & Kanu, S.C. (2024). Chemical characteristics and microbiological loads of harvested rainwater run-off from rooftops in Southeastern Nigeria. Discover Sustainability, 5(1).

[4] UNICEF (2008). The state of the world's children 2008: Child survival (Vol. 8). UNICEF.

[5] Amosah, J., Lukman, T., & Ghana, W. (2023). From adaptation to resilience: the capability of women smallholder farmers in The Nabdam district of the upper east region. International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, 5(7): 483–502.

[6] Asante, J., Dotson, S., Hart, E., & Kreamer, D.K. (2018). Water circulation in karst systems: comparing physicochemical and environmental isotopic data interpretation. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77: 1–18.

[7] Itodo, A.U., Wuana, R.A., Erhabor, O.D., Obruche, E.K., & Agbendeh, Z.M. (2021). Evaluating the effects of roofing materials on physicochemical properties of harvested rainwater in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. Chemical Search Journal, 12(1): 21–26.

[8] Aleruchi, O., Nlerum, G.O., Robinson, V.K., & Okafor, A.C. (2023). Microbiological Assessment of Rainwater and Air Quality of Some Areas in Port Harcourt. South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology, 15(4): 19–37.

[9] Adeniyi, I.F., & Olabanji, I.O. (2005). Trace metals in bulk freefall and roof intercepted rainwater at Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Chemistry and Ecology, 21(3): 149–66.

[10] APHA (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater in 21st Eds. American Public Health Association (APHA), Washington.

[11] USEPA (2006). Decision Documents for Atrazine. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

[12] Asionye, E.I., Bariweni, A.P., Idomeh, J.E., & Onyena, A.P. (2023). Mutagenicity Studies of Potable Water Sources in Okerenkoko community, Gbaramatu, Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Life & Biosciences research (JLBSR), 4: 1.

[13] Michael, N., Majesty, D., Innocentia, N., Chidera, O., & Francis, I. (2024). Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Rainwater Harvested from Different Rooftops in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Current World Environment, 18(3): 1218–1231. https://doi.org/10.12944/cwe.18.3.24.

[14] Ezemonye, M.N., Isueken, C.O., & Emeribe, C.N. (2016). Physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of rainwater harvested from rooftops in Esan-West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 20(3): 748–757.

[15] Selala M.U., Amin, E.A., & Idris, G.S. (2018). Physicochemical composition of roof harvested rainwater. 12: 14–25.

[16] Ojo, O.M. (2019). Effects of roofing materials on harvested rainwater quality. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 23(4): 735–738.

[17] Álvarez‐Villa, O.D., Vélez, J.I., & Poveda, G. (2011). Improved long‐term mean annual rainfall fields for Colombia. International Journal of Climatology, 31(14): 2194–2212.

[18] Akubugwo, E.I., & Duru, M.K.C. (2011). Biochemical implications of the consumption of water from Otamiri River, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2(6): 956–961.

[19] Zdeb, M., Zamorska, J., Papciak, D., & Skwarczyńska-Wojsa, A. (2021). Investigation of microbiological quality changes of roof harvested rainwater stored in the tanks. Resources, 10(10): 103.

[20] Mendez, C.B., Klenzendorf, J.B., Afshar, B.R., Simmons, M.T., Barrett, M.E., Kinney, K.A., & Kirisits, M.J. (2011). The effect of roofing materials on the quality of harvested rainwater. Water Research, 45(5): 2049–2059.

[21] Ewelike, N.C., Ogbonnaya, P.C., Ekwebelem, V.C., Onyema, J.U., Chuku, P.E., & Anoka, E.O. (2020). Microbiological quality of harvested rainwater used for drinking and domestic purposes in Southeastern Nigeria. Singapore J Sci Res., 10: 47–51.

[22] Mazurkiewicz, K., Jeż-Walkowiak, J., & Michałkiewicz, M. (2022). Physicochemical and microbiological quality of rainwater harvested in underground retention tanks. Science of the Total Environment, 814: 152701.

[23] Jongman, M., & Korsten, L. (2016). Microbial quality and suitability of roof-harvested rainwater in rural villages for crop irrigation and domestic use. Journal of Water and Health, 14(6): 961–971.

[24] Ahmed, W., Gardner, T., & Toze, S. (2011). Microbiological quality of roof‐harvested rainwater and health risks: a review. Journal of Environmental Quality, 40(1): 13–21.

[25] Kaushik, R., Balasubramanian, R., & Dunstan, H. (2014). Microbial quality and phylogenetic diversity of fresh rainwater and tropical freshwater reservoir. PLoS One, 9(6): e100737.

Source of Funding:

This study did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not–for–profit sectors.

Competing Interests Statement:

The authors declare no competing financial, professional, or personal interests.

Consent for publication:

The authors declare that they consented to the publication of this study.

Authors' contributions:

Both the authors made an equal contribution to the conception and design of the work, data collection, experimental analysis, writing of the article and critical revision of the article. Both the authors have read and approved the final copy of the manuscript.

Availability of data and material:

Authors are willing to share the data and materials according to relevant needs.

Acknowledgment:

Authors acknowledge the roles played by Mr. Sunday Eluu of the Department of Microbiology, Hezekiah University, Umudi, and the research assistants involved in the collection of the samples in the various institutions studied.