PHYSIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL INVESTIGATION TO EVALUATE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A TYPICAL ARTESIAN BOREHOLE LOCATED IN IGBOGOR EDO STATE, SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Chemical and biological Laboratory tests were carried out on samples of water collected from the artesian borehole located at Igbogor Community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State to determine the contamination level chemically and biologically respectively. It was observed that this water forms scum and has relatively high contents of HCO3 (168mg/l); Ca (79.3mg/l) mg (76mg/l); SO4. (4.8mg/l); Fe (2.20mg/1) and Ni (0.12mg/1). Biological analysis reveals contamination with E.Coli Count (1): Conliform Count (2) and Salmonella Count (3). Igbogor artesian borehole is located in Palaeocene - bentonitic clay along Iguobazuwa -Okada road. Other researches reveals that it discharges about 54.2903 m3/ day of hard water. This volume of water discharge per day can be purified of hardness and other contaminants and it will supply potable water to Igbogor and her neighbouring communities of Okoro, Okha, Adeyan-Oba and Ofunmwegbe (New Road) who are suffering from drinkable water scarcity. The water may also be channeled to farms for irrigation purpose.