Physicochemical Properties and Quality Assessment of Borehole Water in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Njoku; Chibueze; Ajewole; Sunday Samuel; Obot; Mfon Samuel

doi:10.56201/ijccp.vol.12.no4.2026.pg25.32

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Physicochemical Properties and Quality Assessment of Borehole Water in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Njoku, Chibueze, Ajewole, Sunday Samuel, and Obot, Mfon Samuel

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water remains a major public health concern in many parts of Nigeria where boreholes serve as the primary sources of domestic water. Groundwater obtained from boreholes is widely relied upon due to inadequate municipal water supply; however, its quality must be regularly assessed to ensure it is safe for consumption and domestic use. This study assessed the physicochemical quality of borehole water in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two borehole water samples were collected from Utu Edem Usung (Ikot Ekpene LGA) and Ukana Iba (Essien Udim LGA) and analyzed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, and total hardness using standard analytical methods. The pH values ranged from 6.7 to 6.8, while electrical conductivity ranged from 158 to 188 μS/cm. Calcium hardness ranged from 74 to 76 mg/L, magnesium hardness from 9.3 to 10 mg/L, and total hardness from 185 to 191 mg/L as CaCO3. The pH values obtained fall within the recommended drinking water range of 6.5–8.5 established by the World Health Organization and national regulatory bodies. Similarly, the electrical conductivity and hardness levels recorded are consistent with values reported for groundwater sources in Nigeria and remain within acceptable limits for potable water. Overall, all parameters were within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality . The results indicate that the borehole waters are of acceptable physicochemical quality and suitable for drinking and domestic purposes. Continuous monitoring is recommended to ensure sustained water safety and to prevent possible contamination associated with anthropogenic activities and environmental changes.

Keywords

Borehole waterPhysicochemical parametersWater hardnessDrinking water qualityAkwa Ibom State

References

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Physicochemical Properties and Quality Assessment of Borehole Water in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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