Abstract

<p>Groundwater contamination is a significant environmental concern globally, affecting the availability and quality of drinking water. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties and heavy metal contamination in groundwater sourced from selected boreholes in Ovom, Yenibebel, and Yenaka communities within Attisa Clan, Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The analysis followed standard World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to determine the water’s suitability for human consumption and safeguard public health. The physical parameters assessed included electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and total hardness (TH), while chemical parameters included total alkalinity (TA), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), and sulfate (SO4). Heavy metals, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), were also analyzed. The results revealed that the physical parameters were within the permissible limits of the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and WHO standards. However, the Hazardous Pollution Index (HPI) indicated that the groundwater from Ovom and Yenibebel had elevated cadmium concentrations above the recommended limit of 0.003 mg/L, rendering the water unsafe for consumption. Conversely, water from Yenaka was deemed safe for human use. It is recommended that regular monitoring of groundwater quality in Yenagoa be conducted to ensure the health and well-being of the population, with particular focus on addressing cadmium contamination in affected areas</p>