Policy Implications and Public Health Risks of Contaminated Groundwater in Urban Nigeria: A GIS-Based Case Study of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Groundwater remains a primary source of drinking water in many Nigerian cities, yet its quality is increasingly compromised by anthropogenic activities. This study examines the public health risks and policy implications of groundwater contamination in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, using a GIS-based multi-criteria assessment framework. Forty borehole samples were collected from urban and rural locations and analysed for key bio-physicochemical parameters including pH, total coliform, cadmium, nickel, nitrate, and iron. Results reveal widespread contamination, with over 90% of urban samples exhibiting pH levels below WHO standards, detectable total coliform in all samples, and cadmium and nickel concentrations exceeding permissible limits. GIS mapping identified clear spatial patterns: urban core areas were classified as “very unsuitable” for drinking, while peripheral rural areas were largely “suitable.” These findings underscore significant public health vulnerabilities, with an estimated 148,922 residents exposed to substandard groundwater. The study highlights the urgent need for integrated policy measures, including mandatory borehole testing, centralised water treatment, improved waste management, and public awareness campaigns. This research demonstrates how geospatial tools can inform evidence-based policy and regulatory interventions to safeguard groundwater quality and public health.

Groundwater contamination, public health policy, GIS mapping, water quality standards, Nigeria.

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