Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters of Water from Selected Boreholes Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria
Nkiruka Charity Eboagu, Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe, Chiedozie C. Aralu, Kate Ekwy Ochiagha, Ebele Joy Morah
Abstract
The study seeks to evaluate the quality of borehole water around the Nnewi industrial area of Anambra State, Nigeria, and to determine the extent of its deterioration due to waste from nearby industries. Samples were collected from 16 different borehole sampling sites around 8 industries for twelve consecutive months (May 2019 to April 2020) and analysed for various physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), etc., using standard methods. The results were compared with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. In both seasons, data acquired indicate COD ranges of 4.50 – 20.50 mg/L (mean value 9.63±5.28 mg/L), temperature 27.00 – 30.00°C (mean value 28.59±0.99°C), pH 5.60–7.99 (mean value 6.97±0.47), DO 2.00 – 6.60 mg/L (mean3.99±0.76 mg/L), BOD 4.00 – 9.60 mg/L (mean 6.54±1.33mg/L). All the physicochemical parameters examined, with exception of BOD and COD, are within the WHO standard limits. Pearson’s correlation showed that physicochemical parameters were strongly and moderately correlated with each other at either <i>p </i>< 0.01 or < 0.05. The BOD and COD results revealed that the borehole water was found to be contaminated, unfit for drinking, and likely health hazards to users. It is, therefore, recommended that water from these study areas will be properly treated before human consumption, to rid it of contaminants.