Heavy metal levels and physico chemical quality of potable water in Warri, Nigeria

摘要

Warri an oil producing community in Delta State of Nigeria is faced with abnormal environmental degradation associated with oil pollution resulting from refinery effluents and oil spillage. Since open and underground water bodies are regarded as final recipients of most environmental pollutants, this study sought to provide data on the levels of the physico-chemical parameters and contaminants in Warri water supply. Water samples were collected from eight districts that make up Warri. In each district, surface, well and borehole water were collected and labeled. We investigated the cadmium, lead and chromium using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, physico - chemical properties such as pH, temperature, total suspended solid TSS, total dissolved solid TDS, turbidity, conductivity, biological oxygen demand BOD, dissolved oxygen DO, chemical oxygen demand COD, and total coliform count of potable water sources in Warri. Ekpan River was found to have 1.2mg/L of Cd, 1.0mg/L of Cr, and 1.20mg/L of Pb. The heavy metals levels and the pollution parameters were lowest in the borehole water samples, except pH which is more acidic in borehole water samples and conductivity which is more in well water samples in all the sampling stations. Some of the parameters were above WHO standards.