Physicochemical Quality of Treated and Untreated Borehole Water in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The suitability of water for human consumption is based on but not limited to its general physiochemical parameters. This study assessed the physicochemical quality of borehole (i.e. groundwater), in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA (KOLGA), Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Treated borehole water samples, as well as their respective untreated counterpart were randomly collected from domestic boreholes in KOLGA. The samples were similarly analyzed for some physicochemical parameters using standard analytical methods. Results showed that there was significant difference (P < 0.05), between treated and untreated water as well as amongst all monitored parameters. Generally lead, copper and mercury were not detected in any of the samples, while traced level of zinc, cadmium and chromium were only detected in some untreated samples. Â Notwithstanding, after treatment arsenic and iron levels decreased from 0.011 - 0.135 in untreated water to 0.00 - 0.033 mg/l in treated water and 3.063 - 4.753 to 0.00 - 0.016 mg/l respectively (P < 0.05). Similarly, pH increased from 4.313 - 5.786 in the untreated water to 6.180 - 6.636 in the treated water (P < 0.05). Based our findings we recommended that potable borehole water in KOLGA should be subjected to routine toxicity assessment prior to their consumption