Physicochemical and Heavy Metal Assessment of Water Samples from Boreholes near Some Abattoirs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Water samples from boreholes near abattoirs in Iwofe, Agip (Ayagologo) and Mile III were collected and assessed for some physicochemical parameters and heavy metals. The physicochemical parameters were analysed using American Public Health Association (APHA) standard methods, while the heavy metals were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results indicated that all the physicochemical parameters measured in all the stations except pH at Agip station which was 5.50±1.76a were all within the WHO and SON permissible limits of 6.5-8.5. The heavy metals analysed showed that copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) (Iwofe and Agip) were below WHO and SON permissible limit for drinking water. Cadmium (Cd) was not detected in any of the samples. The other metals examined were all above the standard limits prescribed by these organisations for drinking water. Zinc (Zn) (3.379±0.01 - 6.599±0.04 ml/L) range was higher than the WHO and SON upper limit of 3.0 ml/L. Manganese (Mn) values which ranged from 0.049±0.01-0.054±0.01 in the station were above the WHO limit of 0.4 ml/L and SON limit of 0.2 mg/L. Nickel (Ni) ranged between 0.012±0.00 - 0.047±0.00 ml/L and the stations, which were higher than the acceptable limit of 0.02 mg/L by WHO and SON. Arsenic (As) was 0.15±0.00 - 0.37±0.04 mg/L range in the stations which was higher than the maximum requirement of 0.01 mg/L by WHO and SON. The result showed that the metal concentrations were generally in the order; Zn > Co > As > Mn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Fe > Cd in the stations examined. The implication of the results obtained is that the water from these boreholes sited within the vicinity of these abattoirs, are not suitable for human and animal consumption and also for the treatment of the meat during processing.