INVESTIGATION OF THE BOREHOLE WATER QUALITY

ABSTRACT

Ground water is currently the most popular source of water for residential and household use in Nigeria, as it is still a developing country. Urban residents who depend on surface and ground water sources for their drinking water may suffer as a result of leachate leakage from municipal waste disposal sites. Consequent upon the gradual buildup of contaminants in water sources, substantial loads of pollutants that may be hazardous to users may emerge. Therefore, the need to investigate borehole water quality around a dumpsite is needed. Samples were collected from boreholes that were located at five closest points to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital dumpsite and then taken immediately to the Hydraulic laboratory in the Civil engineering department building of Engineering, University of Benin for physiochemical analysis which included; acidity (pH), Conductivity (µs/cm), Nitrate (mg/L), Nitrite (mg/L), Magnesium (mg/L), Calcium (mg/L) and Colour (pt.co). When the laboratory results were obtained, they were compared to the World Health Organization (W.H.O) standards for a drinking water, fourth edition, 2022. Results that were concluded all proved that all parameters were within the Guidelines stated by W.H.O. pH was below the minimum limit in all samples which is a cause for the acidity. Water quality Index was also calculated using Excel and it was discovered the borehole water samples did not pass the criteria for a good quality of drinking water. Borehole supply A-E had values of 61.78526, 66.7202, 67.27250, 68.36111, 62.33345, which all fall within the range of 51-75, the value range for poor quality of water.