EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF POTABLE WATER SOURCES IN NKORO COMMUNITY, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examines the impact of sea water on the underground water in Nkoro community and evaluates the suitability of the drinking-water. Water samples from six different sampling stations (representing different water sources) were analyzed by determining 17 physicochemical parameters. The mean pH values varied from 4.25 ± 0.35 to 6.22 ± 0.03, in all stations except for SS2BO, which were below the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Agency for food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulatory limits of 6.5-8.5, indicating that the groundwater was slightly acidic. Turbidity mean value (14.93 ± 0.12 NTU) for SS1BO was higher than standard limits (5 NTU). Dissolved oxygen (DO) values varied from 8.05 ± 0.31 mg/L to 10.92 ± 0.32 mg/L, in all stations and were above standard regulatory permissible limits (6 mg/L). Water quality indices (WQI) computed for different water sources indicate that Federal Government Assisted water project (SS1BO) was unfit for drinking, while the World Bank Assisted water project (SS2BO), the individual borehole (SS3BO) and the European Union Assisted water project I (SS4BO) showed excellent results. Meanwhile, the SS1BO was considered unfit for drinking purposes and the SS2BO showed the best quality for human consumption. However, there is a need to further improve the water quality from other sources within the area by attaching water treatment facilities.