COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BOREHOLE WATER QUALITY STANDARD IN IKOT EKPENE ENVIRONS TO NIGERIAN STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY (NSDWQ)

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BOREHOLE WATER QUALITY STANDARD IN IKOT EKPENE ENVIRONS TO NIGERIAN STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY (NSDWQ)

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   Introduction

Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology man’s continued existence depends very much on its availability. Water is one of the essential need of man. Securing accesses to potable water supply is a central issue of concern not only in urban areas but much more in rural areas. The importance of water supply for domestic uses cannot be compromised not only because of its social and economic values, but also because water based sources of livehoods have become critical to the survival and health of most rural households, providing valuable contributions to rural livehoods.

According to Chapman (1996) and BGs, (2001), groundwater is easily the most important component of the hydrological cycle, an important source of potable water in Africa and constitutes about two thirds of the freshwater resources of the world. Surface water is not eventually distributed or accessible to large section of the global population (Diane, 2004, McDonald and Kay, 1998).

Borehole water provides a reasonably constant supply for domestic use, livestock and irrigation, which is not likely to dry up under natural conditions thereby buffering the effects of rainfall variability across seasons (Hamil and Bell, 1986; Calow et al., 2011). Boreholes sampled varied from 30m-50m deep, but water was found in the level between 7 to 20m. Dynamic water level is the level water drops to when the pump is operating due to draw down. Static water level is the level water rises due to infiltration and capillary action (IAS, 2008).

Boreholes and wells locally distort the natural flow field and create a path that opens up an additional possibility of heat and mass transfer between rock formation/aquifers, surrounding and atmosphere according to (Berthold Zolo; Poor agricultural practices septic tanks, soakaway, pit latrines and grares near boreholes, poor well construction, contribute to borehole water contaminated according to (Sunude-Wilhelmy and Gill, 1999; Egwari and Aboaba, 2002; Lu, 2004; Mcttenry, 2011).

Borehole water is the water beneath the surface, where all the voids in the rocks and soil are filled. It is source of water wells, boreholes and springs.

A borehole is an hydraulic structure which properly designed and constructed, permits the economic withdrawal of water from an aquifer. Ground water is already extensively in Nigeria through wells and boreholes. Unfortunately borehole water like water from other sources is never entirely pure. It varies in purity depending on the geological condition of the soil through which the ground water flows and some anthropogenic activities.

1.1   Statement of the Problem

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report (2010), Ikot Ekpene lacks adequate improved water resources, thus 60% of the water resources are faced with pollution beyond the WHO maximum permissible limits. This is inaccessibility to clean water posses a risk of water borne diseases as indicated by water borne diseases like typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.

1.2   Aim and Objectives of the Study