Jane Chisom ANAGWU

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health concern in many developing communities. This study assessed the quality of drinking water and associated human health risks among households in Uholor Community, located off Upper Ekehaun, Benin City, Edo State. Water samples were collected from multiple household sources, including boreholes, wells, and stored water, and analyzed for key physicochemical and microbiological parameters using standard methods.
The results revealed variations in water quality across sources, with several samples exceeding recommended limits for parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and microbial contamination indicators, including total coliforms and Escherichia coli. The presence of these contaminants suggests potential pollution from environmental and anthropogenic activities, including poor sanitation practices and inadequate waste disposal systems. Health risk assessment indicated that residents may be exposed to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, and cholera, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
Overall, the findings highlight significant concerns regarding the safety of drinking water in the study area. The study recommends regular monitoring of water quality, improved sanitation infrastructure, public health education, and the implementation of appropriate water treatment methods at the household level. Ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water is essential to reducing health risks and improving the overall well-being of the Uholor Community.

Water is one of the most essential resources for sustaining human life, agricultureandecosystems (Scanlon et al., 2023). Access to safe and quality water is fundamental humanrights and is recognized as a key goal for sustainable development to be achieved by2030(Vaseashta, 2021). The quality of water is determined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic properties which collectively its ability to protect human health andaquaticecosystem. These properties are affected by various constituents both dissolvedandsuspended and can be influenced by natural processes as well as human activities (Luvhimbi et al., 2022).