ABSTRACT
In human surroundings, heavy metals and microorganisms are prevalent, and at high concentrations, chronic impacts have occasionally resulted in poisoning. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether the amounts of microbiological and inorganic pollutants found in boreholes and storage tanks in UNIBEN and its environs, Benin City are high enough to have an impact on the health of the local population. Ten (10) samples from storage tanks and boreholes were chosen at random from UNIBEN and environs, Ugbowo, Benin City. Standard procedures were used to collect water samples from the storage tanks and boreholes. The quantities of faecal coliform and E. coli, as well as lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe), were measured using standard protocols in the water samples. The review included data from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and the World Health Organization's (WHO) permissible levels for drinking water. The presence of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, and Ni often exceeded the permissible limits set by FEPA and WHO, particularly in storage tanks. The microbial analysis indicated the presence of coliform and E. coli, with many samples exceeding the safety limits set by WHO and FEPA, especially in storage water. This could be due to factors like stagnation and septic system failures. From the foregoing, this study has shown that the water from the Benin Formation aquifer is not potable. Furthermore contaminants were more pronounced in storage systems compared to the groundwater.
