PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS AND WATER QUALITY OF SELECTED WELLS IN TALATA MAFARA, ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Contamination of drinking water source by pollutants is one of the major problems affecting rural areas in developing countries like Nigeria. Accessibility of high-quality water is necessary for preventing diseases and improving quality of life. Well water is the main source of drinking water in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Well water samples collected from two major locations, Tashar Kali (TKM) and Yarkurna area (YAM) of Talata Mafara metropolis of Zamfara State, Nigeria were assessed for heavy metal concentration
using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Also, a physicochemical analysis was carried out using standard procedure of water analysis approved by Association of Analytical Chemist and American Public Health Association. The results obtained revealed that both samples have neutral pH of 6.8, Turbidity of (3.23 and 5.46 NTU), electric conductivity of (29.5 and 29.6μ/cm), Phosphate (0.12 and 0.13mg/L), Temperature (21 and 21OC), TDS (1.5 and 1.7ppt), B.O.D (0.1 and 0.3mg/L), C.O.D (2.397 and 3.196mg/L) and D.O (4.0 and
2.0mg/L). The concentrations of heavy metals obtained were Cd 219μg/ml and ND, Cr 0.954 and 0.587μg/ml, Fe 1.948μg/ml and ND, Pb 0.587 and 0.158μg/ml, Mn 0.159 and 0.052μg/ml, Ni 6.620 and 3.104μg/ml, more over Cu, Se, and Zn were not detected in the both samples respectively. the results obtained are compared with the National standard (NSDWQ 2007) and International standard (WHO 2011), The research recommended that the Government should provide some water treatment agencies in the study areas to reduce the level of heavy metals in the water for safety purpose in terms of drinking and domestic uses