ABSTRACT
Surface and ground water quality in Warri, Southern Nigeria were investigated in order to determine the potability of the water in the study area. A total of nine (9) water samples were obtained (six (6) river samples and three (3) borehole samples) and analyzed for their physico-chemical and heavy metal concentrations parameters using standard techniques. The results of the analysis reveal the following: pH (5.80-7.40), Temperature (28.7-30.3), Total Dissolved Solid (13.00-14,400.00), Electrical Conductivity (27.00-28,800.00) Turbidity (2.87-31.46), Dissolved Oxygen (3.30-7.40), Total Solids (23.00-14,430.00), Total Hardness (8.00-2700.00), Total Alkalinity (19.00-68.00), Total Suspended solids (4.00-30.00), Biological Oxygen Demand (1.20-2.90), Chemical Oxygen Demand (2.56-6.64), Salinity (8.06-12,390.16), SO4 (0.451-757.809), NO3 (<0.001-21.237), PO4 ((<0.001-1.616), CO3 (NP), Ca (0.841-168.21), Mg (0.411-554.27), Na (1.426-1136.65), K (0.043-96.453), Fe ((<0.001-0.047), Cr ((<0.001-0.023), Cd ((<0.001-0.004), Zn ((<0.001-0.218), Cu ((<0.001), and Pb ((<0.001). All the parameters from the physico-chemical analysis do not fall under the standard limits except Biological Oxygen Demand, NO3 and PO4. The bulk of the metrics had high concentrations, indicating that surface anthropogenic activities are likely the source of the water contamination. As a result, the water is not fit for human consumption and is not potable. Therefore, before using the water, it needs to be treated sufficiently.
