Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentration in Groundwater of UVWIE Local Government Area and Environs, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy Metal contamination of water is an issue of deep concern worldwide and as such the degree to which these metals may have contaminated the most valuable fresh water resource, “Ground water” must be summarily understood. Seventeen(17) Borehole and Uncased Well water samples were collected from various parts of Uvwie, Warri South and Sapelle Local Government Areas and analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometryfor six(6) heavy metals namely Manganese(Mn), Copper(Cu), Lead(Pb), Chromum(Cr), Arsenic(As) and Zinc(Zn). Upon comparison with NIS and WHO standards for drinking water, the results showed that though there were measurable concentrations of heavy metals in the ground water samples they were not high enough to pose a threat to human health. Nonetheless, the results were subjected to Statistical analysis using Descriptive methods; Principal component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA); a dendogram was also plotted to describe the degree of relationship between the heavy metal concentrations. Heavy metal concentration in the ground water within the study area was found to follow two major trends: