Assessing The Effect of Heavy Metals on Ground Water Portability around Uwelu Spare Parts, Benin City, Edo State

Six (6) borehole water samples around Spare-part market area in Uwelu in Egor Local Government Area of Southern Nigeria were collected to ascertain its potability. The Study assessed the physicochemical and heavy metals parameters using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The physical parameters water (borehole) samples analyzed includes, TDS, pH, EC, TSS, TS, Hardness, Turbidity, Salinity and Alkalinity. The heavy metal parameters analyzed in the borehole water samples includes, Lead, Manganese, Nickel, Chromium, Copper, Zinc, Iron and Cadmium. The pH ranges 6.85 to 7.1. Electrical Conductivity ranges from 20.7uS/cm to 139.37uS/cm. Total Dissolved Solids range from 9.8mg/l - 68.4mg/l. Chromium concentration range from 1.136mg/l - 3.650mg/l. Lead range from 0.005mg/l - 0.015mg/l. Copper range from 0.028mg/l - 0.163mg/l. The heavy metal parameters analyzed reveal that Cadmium range from 0.001mg/l - 0.007mg/l. Zinc range from 0.244mg/l - 0.332mg/l. Manganese range from 0.016mg/l - 0.043mg/l. Nickel range from 0.010mg/l - 0.034mg/l. Generally, borehole water quality can be said to be potable as a result of all other parameters being below the threshold value besides pH using WHO, FEPA and SON Standards. Also, the result shows a high concentration of hexavalent chromium across the wells and the borehole water quality can be said to be potable as a result of all heavy metal parameters being below the threshold value besides hexavalent chromium using SON, FEPA and WHO Drinking Water Standards. The study suggests water study to be done to ascertain the course of the high concentration of 
the pH and hexavalent chromium.