Abstract: The resident student community of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria is heavily dependent on ground water for various activities. In an attempt to solve a lingering water shortage problem at the student hostels, the university authority recently constructed and commissioned three new water boreholes at the student hostels. This study assesses the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of such underground water being utilized by the resident students. Overall mean conductivity value (102 us/cm) and those for individual hostels were similar to the WHO recommended minimum (p>0.05). Other physical characteristic values such temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), turbidity, color, odor and appearance were equally significantly (p<0.05) lower than the WHO minimums. The overall mean values recorded for pH (4.93), sulphate (1.00 mg L-1), nitrate (3.11 mg L-1) and free chlorine (0.04 mg L-1) were significantly (p<0.05) lower than the WHO minimums. Mean values of iron, copper and manganese (0.61, 3.11 and 0.24 mg L-1, respectively) were on the other hand significantly (p<0.05) higher than the WHO recommended minimum values. Total coliform and total viable bacteria counts were too numerous and significantly higher than the WHO recommended standards. There is an urgent need for the proper treatment before distribution of borehole water being utilized at the student hostels of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. Such treatment should emphasize the disinfection against coliforms and removal of excess iron, copper and manganese.