Analysis of Groundwater Quality of Hand-Dug Wells in Peri-Urban Area of Obantoko, Abeokuta, Nigeria for Selected Physico-Chemical Parameters.

To assess the groundwater quality in the Obantoko community, a peri-urban area in Abeokuta, Nigeria, twenty-five (25) hand-dug wells were selected and analyzed for important water quality parameters using standard procedures. Observed parameters were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), total solids (TS), hardness, alkalinity, chloride (Cl ), sulfate (SO4 -2 ), phosphate (PO4 3), nitrate (NO3 ), and ammonia (NH4 + ). The results of water parameters analyzed showed elevated values of pH (7.7 – 9.5), electrical conductivity (110 – 490 µS/cm), temperature (27.7 – 28.3 o C), TSS (10 – 450 mg/l), phosphate (27.9 – 86.0 µg/l), nitrate (2.97- 40.68 mg/l) and ammonia (0.0 – 0.59 mg/l), higher than World Health Organization standards for drinking water. The potential health risks associated with these water parameters have been documented. The groundwater quality of these wells is thereby compromised and unfit for healthy consumption except when thoroughly treated.