Quality assessment of groundwater from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The physicochemical and trace metal levels of groundwater (borehole) from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State used for drinking and other domestic  purposes were analyzed to assess its equality. A total of 20 sampling points were selected for the study, the groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and trace metals values. Levels of various physicochemical  parameters which include Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity(EC), Total  Dissolved Solids(TDS), Total Hardness, Magnesium, and Calcium were determined using standard analytical methods. The concentration of NO3 ^-, Cl ^-, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, and Pb were determined spectrophotometrically using CHEMetrics Model V-2000spectrophotometer which is    pre-programmed to measure 30 analytes automatically, using CHEMetrics Vacu-Visuals self-filling ampoules. The results  showed that concentration of Mn, Cr, and Pb are found to be slightly higher above the maximum permissible limit of Nigerian  Standard for Drinking Water Quality 0.2, 0.5 and 0.01mg/L respectively, while Fe, Cu, and Zn concentration are below or within the permissible limit of 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/L respectively set by NSDWQ in majority of the boreholes. The values for   physicochemical variables EC, pH, Temperature, TDS, Total Hardness, Ca, Mg, Cl ^-, and NO3 ^- were found to be below or within the permissible limit set by the NSDWQ. Thus, it is concluded that the current status of the water in most of the boreholes considered for this study is fit as a source of drinking for the community; it is recommended that those boreholes with higher level of Mn, Cr, and Pb should be closed and new ones constructed to enhance good drinking water delivery to the community.

Keywords: Groundwater, Hadejia, Physicochemical Parameters.