Assessment of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Parameters of Borehole Water: A Case Study from Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Access to clean and wholesome water is one of the fundamental human rights, despite billions of people around the world still lacking access to this basic necessity. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of borehole eater was carried out, using Lekki in Lagos state as a case study area. The city is a fast growing where a significant proportion of the populace rely on borehole water supply. The study assessed the quality of the raw water samples and the effectiveness of the conventional treatment methods employed by most residents in the study area. The findings indicate that there are significant deviations in the various parameters of the raw water samples from the approved levels of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ), showing the need for improved water treatment techniques. The use of Hypochlorite, Soda ash, Alum, and a three-stage filtration system was proposed and tested, yielding significant improvements in both the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of the water samples when compared with the control standards. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge targeted at improving water quality, especially in regions that depend heavily on borehole water supply. The findings emphasize the benefits of implementing comprehensive and efficient water treatment methos, including the need for continuous optimization and monitoring of these techniques. This is important for promoting public access to safe and wholesome potable water, thereby contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Further research is recommended to explore the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the improved treatment method for wider application.