ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BOREHOLE WATER QUALITY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVER STATE.
1Effiong, E. E.,2Ubong U. I.,&3Ogbuji, S. I.
1&2Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
3 Dept. of Geography and Environmental Management, Imo State University Owerri.Email: sogbujiic@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study examined the physic-chemical characteristics of water from boreholes in secondary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis in order to determine the suitability of such water for human consumption. Analysis of the water quality parameters were conducted and compared with World Health organization standards (WHO, 2006), to know if the water meets the standards stipulated. Some of the parameters examined include pH, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, chlorine, conductivity among others. All reagents procured for the analysis were of analytical grade quality. The result indicates that most of physical parameters were within the WHO standards for drinking water except temperature while the chemical parameters pH, lead, phosphate and nitrate among others are also within the WHO tolerable limits. But the overall Water Quality Index (QWI) which took care of the characteristics of water as a whole instead of dealing with standards only indicates that the sampled borehole water ispolluted calculated value being higher than the critical value of 0.1. The study recommended among others that regular monitoring of borehole water is very important, since the area is prone to pollution due to crude oil exploration.
Keywords: Assessment, Physicochemical Characteristics, Borehole, Water Quality, Port Harcourt Metropolis
