Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Selected Areas in Imo State in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater quality in Owerri West was assessed. Forty-five water samples were collected from wash-Boreholes. The physico-chemical and biological parameters of groundwater samples from Nekede (Ward A), Ihiagwa (Ward B), Eziobodo (Ward C), Obinze (Ward D) and Avu (Ward E) were assessed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).The study was aimed to determine how distances to a potential source of contamination affect the quality of groundwater, the major contaminants of groundwater in the selected locations and the sources of the major contaminants when compared to WHO standards. A total of three replicates of fifteen different borehole water samples were collected based on distances from closest potential sources of contamination. The pH, turbidity values and temperature of the borehole samples ranged from 5.6 ± 0.005 to 8.6 ± 0.70, 4.5± 0.26 to 9.3±0.56 NTU and 24.0 ± 0.32 to 27.5 ± 0.45⁰C respectively. Total Viable Count (TVC) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of the borehole samples ranged from 3.0 ±0.05 to 7.3±0.04 cfu/ml to 1.1±0.05 to 2.0±0.07 mg/L respectively. Concentrations of iron, nitrate and calcium ranged from 0.4±0.006 to 3.8±0.01 mg/L, 5.4±0.16 to 16.2 ±0.25mg/L and16.4 ±0.11 to 33.6±0.49 mg/L respectively. The results showed that most of the boreholes were polluted and strongly recommended that access to water from these boreholes could be improved by proper treatment and good sanitation in the selected locations studied.

Keywords: Groundwater, Water –quality, Concentration, Owerri-West