Analysis of Groundwater Quality in Uyo Capital City: A Comparative Study of Commercial and Private Boreholes

This study was undertaken to comparatively investigate groundwater quality in Uyo capital city from private and public boreholes in order to ascertain if there are variations in quality. Four objectives were used in the study using both experimental and survey methodology. The flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to analyze the level of chemical concentration in the borehole water samples. A total of fourteen (14) groundwater samples were collected from 7 commercial boreholes located at Nwaniba Road, Aka Road by Udo Udoma, Oron Road, Ikpa Road by CCC, Abak Road, Mbierebe Junction and Ikot Ambang and 7 private boreholes located at Water Board Itam, Water Board Oron Road, Nwaniba Road close to Water Fountain, Champion Brewery, Redeemed Church close to Dumpsite Uyo Village Road (Ikpa Road), Abak Road and Mbierebe Junction. The groundwater samples were analyzed in the laboratory for their chemical and microbiological characteristics. On comparing the results with standard values recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), it was discovered that some of the groundwater samples had parameters that were within the permissible limits with slight variation across the different locations. While also, there were parameters that did not meet up with the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization. For instance, the pH of the groundwater samples was not within the permissible limit of 6.50mg/l-8.50mg/l in six (6) different locations of the commercial boreholes which are Oron road, Nwaniba road, Aka road, Ikpa road, Abak road, Ikot Mbang with values of 5.3, 6.3, 4.5, 5.9, 5.1, 5, 7 respectively. While, the pH in the private boreholes was not within the permissible limit in five (5) different locations which are Water board Itam, Nwaniba road, Champion brewery, Ikpa road, Abak road with values of 4.31, 4.98, 6.1, 5.53, 6.21 respectively. Several other parameters also got slight differences. The study found out that the groundwater of the study area is not devoid of contaminants, be it from the private or commercial borehole and as such both requires treatment. The study recommends continuous monitoring of the groundwater supply to keep the quality in check.