Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Assessment of Both River and Borehole Water Sources From Obiaruku Town, in Delta State-Nigeria

An assessment of river and borehole water quality was carried out for Obiaruku town in Delta State. Water from these sources is not treated before use hence, this study. Eleven (11) water samples were collected and subjected to physical, chemical and biological analyses. The results were compared with WHO standards. The results show that all the physico-chemical parameters determined, with the exception of Biological Oxygen Demand, BOD and pH are within the recommended standard limits for drinking water. The BOD value ranged from 2.06-3.52mg/l and 0.51-3.82mg/l for the river and the borehole waters respectively, while the pH ranged from 5.0-6.9 for the river and 4.8-6.8 for the borehole water sample. Moreso, the study indicates the pollution tendencies of the water sources, attributable to high levels of Mn (0.018-1.230mg/l), Zn (0.009-0.106mg/l), Cd (0.003-0.005mg/l), Pb (0.005-0.016mg/l) as well as the presence of Coliforms ( E.coli and Feacal streptococci). In all, the water sources are not suitable for drinking, though, the borehole water samples were found to be safer than the river water samples.