SUMMARY
The study investigated the groundwater quality of uselu and its environs in Benin city Edo state. The study area falls within longitudes 6 ̊ 20ʹ 17.34Nʺ and 6 ̊ 37ʹ 32.7ʺ E in the Niger delta Basin. The Benin region is underlain by sedimentary formation of the south sedimentary basin. The geology is generally marked by top reddish earth, composed of ferroginsed clay sand. Three river systems in the Benin Region are the Ikpoba River, the Ogba River and Owigie-Ogbovben River systems. They are small in size being (1 - 5 m) wide and (0.5 - 3.0 m) deep. The major one is the Ikpoba River.
The selected locations in Uselu include Uwasota, Uwagboe, back of traditional ground, Technical junction, Ewai primary school, Iyase, Technical school road, Universal and new Lagos road. Physiochemical, microbial and heavy metal analysis was carried out in the laboratory for each sample collected. The result for each of the physiochemical parameters were under the WHO limit while some of the heavy minerals such as pb and cd were not detected in the analysis. There was no any form of micro organism present in the selected borehole. This makes the water quality suitable for consumption
The water quality in this area is generally potable, because of low of heavy metals( 0.28mg/l Mn, Cd was not detected, 0.01mg/l Ni, 0.2mg/lCr and Pb was not detected), and 0 total heterotrophic bacterial count , 0 total coliform count, 0 E.coli count and 0 total fungi yeast count. Cadmium is released to the environment in wastewater, the presence of lead, nickel in water samples is primarily from industrial activities, the presence of manganese is primarily from household plumbing systems. The pH, salinity and electrical conductivity in the study area was low. The colour for the borehole samples location 3,5 and 9 were relatively with 15,20 19 pt.co respectively and they where brownish – whitish. Turbidity and TSS only occurred in samples 1,3,5 and 9. The presence of microbial organisims in water is from sewages, septic tanks, and animal feces.
Generally, the good water quality is due to the absent of agricultural activities , urbanization and industrialization.
