Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Potability of Borehole Water in Onne, Nigeria

The quality of water used by humans is of great importance owing to its association with health and wholeness. The potability of water in Onne Township, Eleme, Rivers State, Nigeria, was assessed using the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and water quality index (WQI).WQI is a global tool employed in water assessment studies. Twenty (20) borehole water samples were collected by stratified random sampling from four (4) clans within the township: Alejor, Ekara, Agbeta, and Ogoloma. The water samples were assessed for physicochemical parameters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although the concentration of PAHs were below World Health Organization (WHO) standard limits (<0.005), the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) is yet to establish limit values for PAHs for potable water in Nigeria. The water quality index (WQI) scores for Alejor, Ekara, Agbeta, and Ogoloma were 96.21, 70.01, 92.62, and 339, respectively. Based on the WQI findings, the water samples from the first three clans were excellent, whereas water samples from Ogoloma were not potable. However, the common low mean pH values of water in Onne (4.33-5.62) compared to WHO and NSDWQ standards (6.5-8.5) present a public health concern for community residents. In contrast, current findings suggest that PAHs in borehole water samples may not constitute a public health nuisance due to their extremely low concentrations in tested water samples. However, there might be a need to treat borehole water samples in Onne before consumption.