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The physicochemical parameters of water from 12 boreholes from 12 different communities in Umuahia
North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria were determined within the period of six months
(February to July) 2011 to investigate their quality. Analyses were done on water samples for
Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Total suspended solids
(TSS), Dissolved Oxygen,(DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD),
Alkalinity, Acidity, Total hardness, Turbidity, Salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium ion, and Magnesium
ion using standard methods and evaluated with the World Health Organization standards. All
physicochemical parameters analysed in borehole water samples were within recommended standards
except the following: total suspended solids (TSS) ranged from 31.3 to 55.0mg/l with a mean value of
37.9±7.67 mg/l, salinity151-227 mg/l (171±37.6 mg/l mean), nitrate 12.4-35.4mg/l (19.6±14.5 mg/l
mean), phosphate 6.22-7.97mg/l (6.99±1.74 mean), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values 5.35-15.9
mg/l (9.92±5.15mg/l mean) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 29.4-33.5 mg/l (31.6±3.33mg/l mean) all
generally above WHO permissible limit respectively. These results indicated that the water sources were
contaminated and unfit for human consumption. This therefore, calls for appropriate treatment measures
before the consumption of these waters by the populace to avoid long term accumulative health problems
of these pollutants. Recommendations on the strategies to reduce/eliminate some of these pollutants were
made.
Keywords: Borehole, water, quality, physicochemical, properties, contaminants, Umuahia.