Available online at www.ijpab.com ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 1 (3): 34-44 (2013) Research Article International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience Physicochemical Studies of Water from Selected Boreholes in Umuahia North Local Government Area, in Abia State, Nigeria N. I. Onwughara* 1, 2 , V. I. E. Ajiwe 2 and H. O. Nnabuenyi 2 1Quality Assurance Department, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc Igbesa Road Agbara Ogun State, Nigeria 2Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, P.M.B. 5052 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author Email:
[email protected] ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT 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.