Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

The Quality of Groundwater in Benin City: A baseline study on inorganic chemicals and microbial contaminants of health importance in boreholes and open wells

Patrick O Erah¹, Christopher N Akujieze² , Gabriel E Oteze²

¹Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.; ²Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Christopher Akujieze Email: akujieze@yahoo.com

Published: 23 December 2002

Citation: Erah PO, Akujieze CN, Oteze GE. The Quality of Groundwater in Benin City: A baseline study on inorganic chemicals and microbial contaminants of health importance in boreholes and open wells. Trop J Pharm Res 2002; 1(2):75-82 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v1i2.4

© 2002 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: Inorganic chemicals and microorganisms are common in human environments and at high levels poisoning from the chronic effects have occasionally occurred. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate whether the levels of inorganic chemicals and microbial contaminants in boreholes and open wells in selected Districts in Benin City are sufficient to affect the health of the inhabitants of the areas under investigation.
Method: Six (6) boreholes and three (3) open wells were randomly selected from two Districts (Okhoro and Teboga) in Benin City. Water samples were collected from the boreholes and open wells using standard techniques. Lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations as well as aerobic bacteria, presumptive faecal coliform, E. coli, faecal Streptococci and fungi in the water samples were determined using standa rd procedures. World Health Organisation acceptable limits for drinking water were used in the evaluation.
Result: All the boreholes and open wells were contaminated with abnormal levels of Pb. High levels of Cr and Cd were found in the borehole and open wells at Okhoro. Abnormal levels of Zn concentrations were detected in almost all the boreholes and open wells. All the boreholes at Teboga were contaminated with unacceptable levels of aerobic bacteria and fungi. Presumptive faecal colifom, E.coli and faecal Streptococci were seen in all the boreholes.
Conclusion: Some boreholes and open wells in Okhoro and Teboga Districts in Benin City are contaminated with abnormal levels of metals and microorganisms capable of causing health hazards to the consumers of boreholes and open wells.

Keywords: Benin City, boreholes, inorganic chemicals, microorganisms, open wells.