Comparative Assessment on the Physicochemical Water Quality of Wells and Boreholes in Two Rivers State Communities, Nigeria

Borehole and well are the main sources of water for residents of Rivers state known to be rich in crude oil deposit which predisposes both water sources to possible contamination with heavy and non-heavy metals with attendant health implications. This study was aimed at comparing the degree of heavy and non-heavy metals contamination as well as physicochemical properties of well and borehole water in Rumuagholu and Mgbuoshimini communities of Rivers state. A total of ninety-six samples comprising of well ( All the tests were done using Standard methods. The pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, total dissolved solid, total hardness, total suspended solids, turbidity, and salinity of water samples from Mgbuoshimini were within the range of 10. 36-11.13, 26.96-27.34 o C, 20.36-63.40 mg/L, 47.81-142.49 s/cm, 85.82-299.93 mg/L, 48.29-143.76 mg/L, 115.91-237.914 mg/L, 30.15-109.33 mg/L, 6.11-20.92 NTU and 0.00-0.01 mg/L, whereas the equivalent values for water samples from Rumuagholu were 9. 79-10.21, 24.46-25.64 o C, 12.12-21.84 mg/L, 47.68-143.27 s/cm, 44.65-130.12 mg/L, 44.82-127.92 mg/L, 75.11-230.30 mg/L, 36.08-84.08 mg/L, 5.72-19.09 NTU and 0.00-0.01 mg/L, respectively. The heavy and non-heavy metals (mg/L) in the water samples from Mgbuoshimini were within the range of ), PO4 3-(0.39-0.58), SO4 2-(33.11-106.86), and NO3 -(1.22-1.94) whereas the equivalent values (mg/L) of the water samples from Rumuagholu were 0.01-0.19, 2. 07-5.46, 2.58-5.22, 0.15-1.93, 11.01-29.45, 0.42-1.10, 1.79-4.10, 0.01-0.02, 0.40-1.12, 0.28-0.39, 37.76-108.56 and 1.06-1.71, respectively. The values of some of the parameters were within the World Health Organization (WHO) limit, whereas others were not. Overall results from this study indicate that both water sources were heavily contaminated which poses a public health risk to residents of the communities. Therefore, proper waste management and disposal with adequate water treatment is recommended to guarantee that water from the well and borehole is potable and safe for drinking and domestic use.