Trace elements determination in municpal water supply in Damaturu Metropolis, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater is the only source of drinking water for residents of Damaturu Metropolis. This is because surface water is very scarce as a result of the very low and erratic rainfall in the region. This study examines the presence of trace elements in the municipal water supplies of Damaturu Metropolis, Yobe state. The trace elements were determined using standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The result of the analysis shows that metals such as Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Copper were not found in all the water samples, while other traces such as Fluoride and, Nitrite are within the permissible limits prescribed by W.H.O. Only the level of iron metal was found to exceed the limits set by WHO (1993). This study suggests that monitoring of the quality of groundwater should be undertaken regularly to identify the magnitude and source of toxic pollutants, which are responsible for the contamination of groundwater quality in the study area.

Key words: Contamination, Trace elements, Toxic, underground water.