Biological Characteristics and Geochemistry of Surface and Groundwater in Uhonmora-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Physicochemical and biological characteristics of surface and groundwater in Uhonmora-Ora were undertaken. Physicochemical parameters examined include pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and electrical conductivity. The heavy metals studied were Iron, Cadmium, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Lead, and Zinc. The bacteriological parameters were counts for pneumoniae, coli, typhi, and aerogenes. The study objective assessed the chemical and biological characteristics of surface and groundwater in Uhonmora-Ora and ascertained its suitability. Data from sixty surface and groundwater samples from streams/rivers and hand-dug wells were analyzed. Primary data from 30 water samples of “A” surface and “B” groundwater samples from hand-dug wells were obtained and analysed from the field of study. The technique of study was purely experimental. The study was conducted during the dry season and water samples collections from the 2 sources were analysed in the laboratory to ascertain their state of water quality of physicochemical parameters and biological counts in comparison with the recommended standards of WHO (2015) and NSDWQ (2007), in line with the Nigeria Ministry of Environment standards (2018), on water quality for drinking desire uses. Results showed that a combination of very high and positive correlations exists between and among the tested parameters. However, variations exist within and among the mean concentrations of NTU, DO, TSS, TDS, Fe, Cd, Cu, Ca, Mg, Pb, Zn, K, E, S, and Ea parameters in surface and groundwater sources. The study recommends that at regular intervals, samples from these water sources should be assessed against water quality standards.