Borehole water, well water toxic in 20 LGAs in Lagos – LASEPA boss says

The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Adebola Shabi, has said that water from boreholes and wells in 20 Local government areas in Lagos state are toxic and pose probable health hazards to residents who consume such water. Shabi gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.

According to Shabi, results of water samples which were obtained from about eight laboratories belonging to LASEPA, showed that petroleum products, also referred to as hydrocarbons, were not only finding their way into wells and other sources of drinking water but they were already reaching a level.
“The results of the analysis of water samples taken from different wells in 20 LGs in Lagos showed a significant rise in hydrocarbon pollution of well water. This can be attributed to the carelessness of residents when discarding used engine oil from their generators or when pouring fuel inside their generators. At times, people allow those products to find their way inside well where people fetch water to drink. When exposed to these products over a period of time, the pollutants will begin to gradually cause harm to the human body. People must also endeavour to refrain from dealing with petroleum products such as engine oil anywhere close to a well, borehole or any other source of potable water” he said.