Profiling the Contamination Level and Pollution Load Index of Borehole Water from Esako West LGA, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fresh water has continued to decrease both in quality and quantity with a wide variety of pollutants entering into fresh water resources. In this research the quality of fresh water was being accessed using standard method of analysis of water. Physiochemical parameters and heavy metal content were determined and data was assessed using contamination factors, degree of contamination and pollution load index result revealed that borehole water at Esako west LGA was slightly contaminated by phosphate (0.16 mg/l) and over 5 times the WHO standard. The acidic water (pH 6) was observed over 200 mg/l of carbon dioxide the contamination factor for zinc were generally greater than 1, while other parameter had values of contamination factors less than 1. In conclusion, borehole water at Esako west contaminated and slightly polluted through the locals continued to consume this water, there is a need for treatment to remove phosphate whose source may be from phosphate rocks in the area or sipping from phosphate fertilizer in farms.