The Quality And Effect Of Borehole Water Proliferation In Benin City, Nigeria And Its Public Health Significance

Abstract

Water is life, essential for human existence, and its importance for individual health as well as the well-being of a nation and access to good quality water cannot be overemphasized. Waer makes up about 70% of the earth’s surface and about 97% of this volume of earth’s surface water is contained in the oceans, only about 0.3-0.8% makes up underground water. Ground water is the water beneath the surface where all the voids in the rocks and soil are filled. It is a source of water for wells, boreholes and springs. A borehole is a hydraulic structure which when properly designed and constructed, permits the economic withdrawal of water from an aquifer. It is a narrow well drilled with machine. Due to the poor investments of the Nigerian government in water supply, many have resulted in construction of boreholes as an alternative source of portable water. Benin City is located in Edo State, southern Nigeria with a growing population. There is a high degree of borehole proliferation as housing development projects are on the increase. There is hardly any residential house, office or business building that does not have a constructed borehole in Benin City. As the population of Benin City continues to rise, human activities including soil fertility remediation, indiscriminate refuse and waste disposal, and the use of septic tanks, soak-away pits and pit latrines are on the increase. These activities are capable of producing leachates into the groundwater formation that serve as source of water to the inhabitants in the City. Proliferation and Contamination of groundwater can pose a serious public health risk and as well as a long term environmental hazard. It is therefore recommended the Edo State government look urgently at this issue and provide solutions to safeguard the health of the citizens and the environment. It is drawn conclusively stated that the proliferation of boreholes in Benin City, may lead to a long term environmental hazard and as well as pose a potential serious public health concern. The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of the proliferation of boreholes in Benin City and public heath significance.