Environmental Challenges of Groundwater Contamination: An Assessment of Boreholes Water Quality in Ovom, Yenibebel and Yenaka Axis of Attisa Clan, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Groundwater and surface water pollution are among the prominent environmental challenges facing humanity globally in this 21 st century. Groundwater is vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic pollution. In this study, groundwater collected from selected boreholes in Ovom, Yenibebel and Yenaka communities in Attisa Clan within Yenagoa metropolis were assessed for their physicochemical and heavy metals qualities, using standard analytical procedures of the World Health Organisation guidelines. The aim of the study was to determine the suitability of the boreholes water for human consumption with view to protecting public health and wellbeing. The physical parameters measured include; Electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS) and total hardness (TH). Chemical parameters analysed include; total alkalinity (TA), pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chloride (Cl), Fluoride (F), Nitrate (NO 3 ), Phosphate (PO 4 ), Sulphate (SO 4 ). Heavy metals analysed include; Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg). Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb). The results of the analysis of the water quality parameters are presented in Table 3.1. The results indicate that the physical parameters measurements were lower than the limits set in the Nigeria standard quality for drinking water (NSDQW) and the world Health Organisation (WHO) standard, in all the sampling points. However HPI evaluation revealed that water samples collected from Ovom and Yenibebel are unsafe for human consumption due to high Cadmium concentration above the recommended level of (0.003mg/l).while the boreholes water from Yenaka are safe for human consumption. It is recommended that quality of boreholes water In Yenagoa should be monitored regularly in order to protect public health.