Water Quality Index of Selected Borehole Water along Pipeline Routes in Parts of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State Nigeria
Elele N.
Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Osuji, L. C. *
Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nwankwoala, H. O.
Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Department of Geology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Water is the principal component in the earth which supports the life of all living and groundwater is a very important source of water which must be managed in sufficient quantity and quality contributes to maintaining health. The study examined water quality index of selected borehole water along pipeline routes in parts of obio/akpor local government area, Rivers State Nigeria. Water samples (15) were sourced from communities (Rumuoke, Rumukania and Egbelu) where decommissioned pipelined pass through and analysed for physicochemical and heavy concentration following the standard methods of the American Public Health Organization (APHA) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The findings revealed that the pH mean concentration was 5.34 across the study area and all concentrations reported are within the WHO and NSDWQ allowable limits. The mean concentration of electrical conductivity (107.51 µS/cm), TDS (69.73 mg/l), (0.02 mg/l) and (4.52 mg/l) reported are within the WHO and NSDWQ allowable limits. The groundwater sample WQI was 21.61 and can be classified “Excellent Water”. It was concluded that the decommissioned pipelines had no direct impact on the quality of the groundwater.
Keywords: Water Quality Index (WQI), groundwater, drinking water, water quality, Rivers State