PHYSICOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER IN IBENO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE

Water quality parameters from Ibeno L.G.A in Akwa Ibom State was evaluated in this study and the results were compared with WHO permissible limits. Physical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and dissolved oxygen; heavy metals such as lead, zinc, nickel, manganese, cobalt and copper; and anions such as chloride and nitrate were analysed from 10 water samples gotten from 5 streams and 5 boreholes in the study area. Results for the physical parameters show temperature ranging from 24.3oC to 24.6oC in streams and 24.0oC to 24.4oC in the borehole water. pH values fall in the range of 6.4 to 7.6 in the streams and 6.4 to 7.0 in the borehole water. Results for the chemical analysis reveal values for manganese ranging from 0.624 to 0.94 in the streams and 0.657 to 0.938 in the borehole water, nickel having values ranging from 0.418 to 0.724 in the streams and 0.406 to 0.728 for the borehole water, lead having values that fall in the range of 0.004 to 0.024 in the streams and 0.007 to 0.022 for the borehole water. Chloride values ranges from 2.67 to 10.6 in the streams and 2.4 to 7.4 in the borehole water. The results indicate that water from all the 10 locations have been contaminated by manganese and has a high risk of chloride contamination which could be a case of saline water intrusion. The results from the analysis of water from all locations indicate that the water from both sources is suitable for domestic uses and should be treated to remove manganese.