Assessment of Public Boreholes Water Quality in Maiduguri Metropolis

Abstract

In this study, the quality analysis of borehole water from various locations in Maiduguri metropolitan was investigated to determine the condition of groundwater in the Council following recent influx of people with resultant increase in human activities. Water samples were collected from boreholes at five different locations viz Bolori, Gwange, Shehuri, Kyarimi park and Bulunkutu. The locations were selected based on operational offices as stipulated and designed by Borno State Water Board (BSWB) within the city. The pH, EC, and TDS of the water samples were analysed using combined pH/EC/TDS combo (Hanna instrument) Model HI 98130 while bacteriological analysis was conducted according to American Public Health Association. The results show that the pH of ground water in all the five locations ranged between 6.56 and 7.12 which was within World Health Organization (WHO) standard for drinkable water. Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the samples ranged from 128±0.42 to 168±0.47 (µs/cm) and was within the WHO standard for drinkable water of 1200μs/cm. Also, turbidity ranged from 1.13 to 1.35 NTU while total dissolved solid (TDS) was ranged from 85 to 121 mg/L and were all within the stipulated limits. In addition, the alkalinity values of the samples ranged from 89 mg/L for Gwange area which showed that, it was WHO complaint while 150±65.6 mg/L was recorded in Bulunkutu area which was above the prescribed limit of 150 mg/L. Furthermore, the concentration of Mg ranged from (1.01 to 7.53 mg/L), Ca (7.53 to 16.05), while Iron (Fe) was detected only in one borehole in Shehuri (0.25 mg/L) whereas Chloride was ranged from (13.4 to 25.5 mg/L). Interestingly, they were found to be within the stipulated WHO standards. The Biological quality of water from Gwange (S3) and Bolori (S1) showed that the concentration of E-coli was the same, 13× 103cfu/100ml while that of Bulunkutu (S3) was 3×103 cfu/100ml respectively. These values are above the maximum permissible limit 0 cfu/100ml of E-coli for drinking water. Therefore, borehole water obtained from some locations in Maiduguri might require some level of treatments before use for domestic purposes