摘要：The crude oil industry in Nigeria remains a major source of revenue and foreign exchange. However, oil exploration and production activities have the potential of causing a lot of distortions in the environment, affecting the ecosystems and human life. The purpose of this study is to assess the physicochemical status of surface and groundwater in Sapele, Delta State, a region that has witnessed oil exploration and production activities. In carrying out this study, water samples were collected monthly from April to September 2016 from stations 1 and 2 (perturbed locations) and station 3 (control) for analysis of physicochemical parameters including heavy metals. Samples were analyzed using standard procedures and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. At significant level of P < 0.05, HCO3, Na, K, Mg, Cl, SO4, Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, EC, Colour, TSS, Turbidity, TDS and Salinity were significantly different across the study stations for surface water. A posteriori Duncan’s Multiple Range Test revealed that stations 1 and 2 (perturbed stations) had higher mean values than station 3 (control). Results from the study show the average physicochemical parameters in ground and surface water conformed to World Health Organization (WHO) standard with the exception of temperature, electrical conductivity, colour, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, iron, cadmium and lead which were slightly higher than WHO and Federal Ministry of Environment permissible level for surface and groundwater indicating some level of pollution due to oil exploration activities.
