QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF BOREHOLE WATERS IN ENUGU URBAN
ABSTRACTS
The quality assessment of borehole and well waters from ten locations in Enugu urban area were studied and compared with World Health Organisation standards. The parameters measured include temperature, color, pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, alkalinity, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, copper, cadmium, zinc, lead, iron, and total coliform. Langelier Saturation and Ryznar Stability Indices were also calculated for some of these parameters. The results obtained at daily intervals were plotted and they showed pollution of seven of the boreholes. Concentrations of Cadmium were high above the limit in six of the boreholes while concentrations of lead and phosphates were high in only two of the boreholes, with respect to the WHO permissible limits for potable water. All the waters show presence of coliform and corrosion potentials. Consequently, these ground waters in this study require treatment before they will be good for human consumption.