IJRES 3 (2016) 93-100 ISSN 2059-1977 Comparison of water quality from boreholes and hand- dug wells around and within the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria Aina, A. T.* and Oshunrinade, O. O. Quality Control Laboratory, Works and Physical Planning Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria. Article History ABSTRACT Received 18 April, 2016 Received in revised form 09 May, 2016 Accepted 17 May, 2016 Keywords: Borehole, Hand-dug well, Water quality, Physicochemical, Microbiological parameters. Article Type: Full Length Research Article The supply of drinking water in densely populated urban communities in Lagos is a challenge. Machine-drilled boreholes are believed to be better sources of drinking water than hand-dug wells. This study was carried out to compare the quality of selected machine drilled boreholes and hand dug wells for drinking. Samples were taken from five locations around and within the University of Lagos main campus, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria and tested for physicochemical and microbiological parameters using standard analytical methods. Range of values obtained for the various parameters for borehole samples are: Colour (9- 57.00 PCU), turbidity (0.00 FTU), conductivity (101.14-303.38 FTU), total dissolved solids (TDS) (148.57-266.29 mg/L), total alkalinity (12.33-20.00 mg/L), Iron (0.01- 1.97 mg/L), Nitrate (2.89-8.11 mg/L), pH (3.86-6.08 mg/L), hardness (17.1-68.4 mg/L), Manganese (0-0.13 mg/L), Coliform (0.12-0.22 cfu/mL) and Escherichia coli (0 cfu/mL). While values obtained for well samples are: Colour (35-177.57 PCU), turbidity (6.25-45.86 FTU), conductivity (139.57-300.78 FTU), TDS (525.50-801.11 mg/L), total alkalinity (116.03-208.07 mg/L), Iron (0.04-0.21 mg/L), Nitrate (6.77- 12.01 mg/L), pH (4.76-5.95 mg/L), hardness (34.2-85.5 mg/L), Coliform (12.50- 17.71 cfu/mL) and E. coli (3.01-7.66 cfu/mL). Borehole water had values for most parameters within the stipulated Nigerian standard for drinking water quality. However, pH values of borehole samples were very low, thus indicating that both borehole and well water require treatment before drinking. ©2016 BluePen Journals Ltd. All rights reserved INTRODUCTION Nigeria is sub-divided into nine different hydrogeological basins and Lagos is located within the Delta basin within which water table aquifers are abundant. These aquifers are made up of alternating sequence of sands and clays. The upper and lower aquifer units have been identified as local water sources while additional significant aquifers are generally encountered between 80 and 100 m and at about 600 m below ground and these provide water for public water supplies, industry and private supplies *Corresponding author. E-mail: adedokuntinuke@yahoo.com; ainaadetinuke@gmail.com. (Lasisi, 2011). Only 10% of the population in Lagos is being served by the public water utility, Lagos Water Corporation. The rest of the population gain access to water either from private boreholes or from informal private sector participants such as water vendors. This situation is further worsened by certain factors such as rapid population growth, climate change, unreliable electricity, inadequate enforcement, water leakages and theft that cause 60% unaccounted-for-water losses (Jideonwo, 2014). Groundwater is a term usually used for subsurface water that occurs beneath the water-table in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated. Groundwater accounts for about 88% safe drinking water in rural areas