Evaluation of sources of drinking water using water quality index in Bauchi Metropolis, Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study evaluated drinking water quality from four different sources in the study area using Water Quality Index (WQI) method. Thirty-two (32) water samples were collected from Borehole, Well, Tap and Sachet water. The quality of water samples were determined using the physicochemical parameters such as pH, Color, Odor, Taste, Temperature, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Calcium, Bicarbonate, Lead, Nickel, Nitrate, Sulphate, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Copper, Fluoride. The results indicated that borehole water quality from Dan Amar ward and Makama B ward were rated poor water, Tirwin and Dawaki borehole were rated unsuitable. The well water samples from Hardo was found as poor water, and well from Dan Amar, Tirwin and Makama B and Makama A were unsuitable for drinking purpose. The tap water sample from Tirwin was poor and the tap water samples from Hardo and Dawaki were unsuitable for drinking purpose. All the sachet water samples were found to be excellent. The results also revealed that, the water quality index (WQI) for borehole water samples ranges from 5.34 to 727.75; well water ranges from 0.80 to 532.53; tap water ranges from 27.43 to 516.23 and finally sachet water ranges from 32.17 to 46.27. The calculated WQI indicates that 25% of water samples are excellent for drinking. 46.9% of the samples fall in good class of WQI. Keywords: Water quality, Bauchi, Borehole, Well, Tap and Sachet wate

Assessment of water quality for selected boreholes and sachets water in Maigatari Town, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Eight water samples were collected, four from different vendors of sachet water and four from different boreholes across Maigatari town. The samples were analyzed for pH using pH meter; Electrical Conductivity using a conductivity meter; while Turbidity of the water using turbidity meter. TDS and TSS using TDS meter. The electron microscope was used to determine the microbial counts. The results of the analysis revealed the range of values for the four (4) sachet and borehole waters respectively as pH (7 – 7.6) and (6 – 6.3); Conductivity (181 – 600) and (413 – 998) µS/m; Turbidity (0 – 2) and (1 – 2) NTU; Total Dissolve Solids (128 – 219) and (131 – 405) Mg/L; Total Suspended Solids (62 – 85) and (71 – 88) Mg/L; Total Solids (227 – 288) and (215 – 476) Mg/L; Microbes (0 – 1) and (0 – 3) cfu/mL; Total Hardness (41.5 – 111) and (50.1 – 123.3) Mg/L. The result also revealed strong positive correlation between pH and Conductivity (0.780); pH and TDS (0.875); pH and Microbes (1.046); turbidity and TS (0.906); Turbidity and Hardness (0.933); TS and Hardness (0.972) in sachet water. While Strong positive correlation existed between Conductivity and TDS (0.861); Conductivity and TSS (0.809); TDS and TSS (0.941) in borehole water. The water quality parameters analyzed were within the threshold of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) with the exception of very few in one or the other samples. The parameters were significantly related to one another. It was however, recommended that the water vendors should improve the drinking water quality of their products and the officials of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) should ensure strict adherence to regulations for drinking water quality.Keywords: Borehole, Sachet, Quality, Water, Turbidity, Conductivity, Total Dissolve Solid

Assessment of physicochemical and microbiological quality of borehole water in Dutse Metropolitan Jigawa State, Nigeria

The health risks associated with individual borehole water quality consumed is not well known for a developing nation like Nigeria. Spatial distribution of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were assessed from Dutse metropolitan in Jigawa state of Nigeria. Water samples were collected from four boreholes A, B, C & D and analyzed in the Dry season (on 22nd February, 2016). Atomic absorption spectroscopy and standard microbiology methods were used to determine the chemical and microbiological quality of sampled water. The results showed that physico-chemical parameters; pH ranged from (6.5-7.5). Others all in (mg/L); TDS varied from (150 – 440); NOM3-N ranged from (1.0 – 3.0), CaCO3 (1.0 - 3.2), Mn (0.01 - 0.1), and F- ranged from (0.0-0.4). Micro-biological parameters; Total plate bacteria (cfu/100ml) ranged from (5.8x10 – 2.6x10). F.C and E.coli values recorded (Nil). Sample A boreholes produced slightly more acidic water than sample B boreholes. However, the entire sample tends towards Neutral. TDS, NO3-N, CaCO3, Mn and F- values were all far below the NSDWQ and WHO standards of drinking water. However, Values for TPB recorded were below the NSDWQ and WHO while the E.coli and FC values are in agreement with NSDWQ and WHO requirement Value. It is therefore recommended to conduct survey of borehole sites prior to drilling to prevent areas of potential hazard to groundwater.Keywords: Boreholes, Physico-chemical, Water, Microbiological quality, Groundwate

Radioactivity level in water around a cement factory in north central Nigeria

In recent times, there has been consistent demand for drinkable water to meet the growing population of Obajana environs, where cement factory is situated. The mean gross alpha and beta activities in drinkable water around the communities of the cement factory, following a continuous exposure of workers and habitants was determined using a low background Gas-less counting system with solid state silicon detector for alpha and beta detection. The average activities for gross alpha and beta water ranged between 0.002871±0.00957 to 0.05335±0.0253 Bq/l and 0.2937±0.0588 to 39.96±11.3000 Bq/l, respectively. The alpha and beta geometric mean of the whole samples were found to be 0.0156±0.01487 Bq/l and 10.9±13.8373 Bq/l, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R), was found to be R = 0.8181, which shows there is a good relationship between the measured gross Alpha and Beta (activity). The average annual committed effective dose for water intake was between 0.149 mSv to 20.100 mSv, the recommended reference level for ingested dose for drinkable water was however exceeded in most locations, thus making the water in most locations not quite safe for consumption.Keywords: Water, Cement Factory, Effective dose, Gross Alpha and Gross Bet

Groundwater Resource Appraisals of Bodinga and Environs, Sokoto Basin North Western Nigeria

The groundwater resources of semi-arid region of Bodinga town and its environs within the Sokoto basin of Northwestern Nigeria have been evaluated. Data obtained at site during pumping test sessions which lasted for a period of between 8-12 hours for a total of 67 boreholes in the area of study were used alongside Information gathered from the careful analysis of lithological logs of the drilled Boreholes. The Hydraulic conductivity for the Kalambaina, Wurno, and Taloka formations are 22.00x10 m/s , 8.00x10-1 m/s, and 1.02x10 m/s and respectively with an average of 3.00x10 m/s for the area. The Transmissivity calculated for these formations are 167.54x10 m2/s, 3.02x10 m2/s and 3.00x10 m2/s respectively while the average total for the area is. 20.30x10 m2/s. Specific capacity for the Kalambaina is 140.00x10 m2/s/m, for Wurno the value is 2.10x10 m2/s/m while Taloka formation have a value of 2.35x10 m2/s/m and the mean computed for this part of the basin is 16.30x10 m2/s /m. Yield is between 0.23 l/s and 6.7 l/s. The calculated properties show the area to be rich in groundwater resources mainly tapped from the coarse sandy and cavernous/jointed limestone layers. However the high drawdown values recorded in some of the boreholes is attributed to the presence of silt- clay materials which act as aquiclude. The high yielding boreholes are those with thicker and sandy aquifer material and less drawdown, however the area have high groundwater resource that is partly affected by the presence of silt and clay intercalations within the sandy Aquiferous units.Keywords: Groundwater, Transmissivity, Coarse-sandy layer, Aquiclude, Semi-confined, Sokoto basin