The Evaluation Of Heavy Metal Contents Of Borehole Water Obtained From Different Hospitals In Umuahia Rural Areas :- Mbogu Immaculata O

ABSTRACT x i This study was aimed at determining the level of heavy metals in borehole water supply from different locations in Umudike. These were collected from Primary health center Umudike Ukwu, Amoba health center Oboro Ikwuano, and Primary health care facility Okwe-Ukwu in Oboro; Umuahia, in order to access the quality of the borehole water from the three study areas. Water samples were collected five different times and sent to the laboratory for analysis using Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The heavy metals determined include; Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), and Magnesium (Mg). Umudike, Mg=0.7777, Mn = 0.1752, Co =0.3280, Cd =-0.0026, Ni = 0.0298, Cu = 0.0022, Pb = 0.0587 and Zn =0.1333mg/l. In Amoeba, Mg = 0.9313, Mn = 0.0007, Co = 0.3355, Cd = -0.0017, Ni = 0.2840, Cu = 0.0036, Pb = 0.0586, Zn = 0.0732. In Oboro, Mg =0.5851, Mn = 0.0008, Co = 0.3286, Cd = - 0.0016, Ni = 0.350, Cu = 0.0039, Pb = 0.0484, Zn = 0.1345. Among the analyzed heavy metals, Mn, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn were below the recommended level set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of (P<0.4, 0.003, 0.07, 2.0 and 3.0mg/l) respectively for the above listed heavy metals. The pollution index values for Mn, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn indicated no significant increase ofpollution by these metals in the borehole water samples studied. While Pb after analysis was recorded as follows in the various study areas; In Umudike Pb=0.0587, In Amaoba 0.058 and Oboro as 0.0484mg/l which gave increased values as against the corresponding WHO limits of (P<0.01). The pollution index values for lead indicated significant increase of pollution by the metal in all the borehole water samples studied. The overall results from this study showed that water samples from the boreholes studied were found to be safe for drinking and other domestic activities considering the parameters which fell within the allowable limits.