PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF BOREHOLE WATERS IN OWERRI NORTH L.G.A, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses of borehole water used for drinking and other domestic purposes in Owerri North Local Government Area comprising of Egbu, Emekuku, Emii, Naze and Orji were carried out to ascertain the usability of the water. In the analyses, parameters like pH, colour, odour, taste, total hardness and solids, conductivity, DO, BOD, Cl, P, Mg, Ca, Cr, Fe, Cd and biological presence of bacteria were determined using their various standards of analyses. Fifteen boreholes, three from each location were selected. Water samples were collected using a 2 dm3 plastic container thoroughly washed and rinsed and carried to the laboratory for analysis. Results indicated colourless, odourless, tasteless water with pH 4.00-6.50, conductivity 0.32 in Orji to 5.18 in Emii, DO from 3.3 in Emii to 5.82 in Naze. The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible levels and found Emii boreholes to be higher than the permissible levels rendering the water polluted. Bacteriological investigations showed almost all the locations higher than the permissible levels indicating the waters were polluted. Owerri North borehole waters require regular treatment to ascertain the quality of drinking water sources. Keywords:   Physicochemical, bacteriological borehole, environmental.