Physico- Chemical and Microbial Analysis of Selected Borehole Water in Obio/Akpor Local Government Rivers State, Nigeria

^*Elenwo E.I., ^**Elenwo O.P., and ^*Dollah O.C.

^*Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B.5323, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

^**Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Port Harcourt P.M.B.5323, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Accepted July 11, 2019

The study examined borehole water quality in selected communities in Obio-Akpor LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria. Study adopted experimental research method. Primary and secondary data sources were used. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to track the borehole positions for each community. The random sample technique was used to select 9 wards and nine communities for water sampling. Nine boreholes purposively were sampled in the nine communities for laboratory analyses on the physical, chemical and microbial parameters of the water samples. Physico-chemical parameters analyzed were: pH, temperature, chloride, acidity, hardness, colour, odour, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and oil and grease. The microbial parameters were E coli and Salmonella. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the study and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0. Results showed that mean values of physical parameters were; pH (6.5), temperature (25.9 ⁰C), chloride (62.8 mg/l), acidity (60.6 mg/l), hardness (20.87 mg/l), colourless, odourless, (TDS) (54.1 ppm), (TSS) (57.5 mg/l) and oil and grease (563 mg/l. Microbial parameters were; E coli (0 cfu/100 ml) and Salmonella (0 cfu/100 ml) were not found. Hypothesis test showed a statistical significant difference between the borehole water quality as indicated by Chloride, Acidity, Hardness, TDS, TSS and Oil/grease and WHO standard for drinking water in the study area. Findings also revealed that values obtained for physico-chemical were lower than NESREA standards and WHO acceptable limits except for higher values of TSS recorded at Choba and Rumuola sample stations. Oil and grease were also found to be higher in content, higher than WHO and NESREA standards in these two areas, this was an indication of pollution. The study recommends that anthropogenic activities should be monitored in the area both on surface and ground water to reduce groundwater seepage and pollution in the study area.

Key words: Physico-Chemical, Microbial, Analysis, Borehole Water, Obio/Akpor.

Full Text PDF (312KB)