Utilization of water quality index (WQI) in water quality assessment of groundwater in Agbor metropolis, Delta State Nigeria

Abstract

A water quality index provides a single number that expresses the overall quality at a certain location and time based on several water parameters. The objective of the study was to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI) of groundwater in Agbor metropolis, Delta State Nigeria in order to assess its suitability for drinking and domestic purposes. WQI was determined on the basis of various physico-chemical parameters namely pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Total suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Sulphate, Nitrate, Phosphate, Chloride, Copper, Lead, Iron, Zinc and Cadmium. The calculation of the WQI was done using weighted arithmetic index method. The WQI was found to be 45.46 indicating that the groundwater in the study area is of good quality in its un- treated state quality and therefore safe for human consumption and domestic purposes.