Chemistry Research and Practice
- ISSN: 3065-906X
Ngozi Jane Maduelosi and Gloria Kelechi Amadi
The research was on Comparative study of the level of heavy metals contents of stream water and borehole water in Ika Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The levels of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn) were compared in five boreholes and stream waters. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer was used to analyze the water samples. The results showed that the concentration levels of Pb and Mn in the stream water samples were above WHO permissible limit, Zn and Cu are lower than the allowable limit while the concentration levels of Pb in the borehole water samples was above WHO permissible limit, Zn, Mn and Cu levels were lower than the allowable limit for drinking water. The results obtained show that the stream waters are contaminated by Pb and Mn but is not contaminated by Cu, Zn according to the WHO (2011) minimum requirement for drinking water. The results obtained for the borehole water show that the water is contaminated by Pb only. The results also reveal that the mean values for levels of heavy metals in borehole water and stream water do not significantly differ between the two samples studied. It is therefore recommended that environmental chemists should conduct public awareness campaigns and educational programs to inform the local community about the quality of the streams and borehole waters.