Assessment of the Quality of Groundwater Sources From Karu and New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract The quality of underground water sources from Karu and New Nyanya was assessed to ascertain the suitability for domestic use. Physicochemical parameters; pH, Conductivity, TDS, DO, Turbidity, TH, Chloride, Nitrate and Sulphate were determined using standard methods and the metals; Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Chromium and Cadmium were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method. The result obtained showed that pH, Conductivity, TDS, DO, Turbidity TH, Chloride, Nitrate and Sulphate were (6.25 ±0.21 mg/L), (462.00±2.83 mg/L) (277.00±2.83 mg/L), (5.20±0.14 mg/L), (0.00±0.00 NTU), (62.09±1.54 mg/L), (0.01±0.01 NTU), (15.00±0.95 mg/L) and ND for borehole and (6.75±0.21 mg/L), (221.00±2.83 mg/L), 130.60±0.85 mg/L), (3.80±0.00 mg/L), (14.43±0.66 NTU), (42.94±0.76), ND, (3.50±0.92 mg/L), and ND for well water in Karu. For Nyanya (6.65±0.21 mg/L), (421.00±2.21 mg/L), (254.00±2.21), (3.50±0.14 mg/L), (0.00±0.00 NTU), (2.32±0.13 mg/L), ND, (2.90±0.85 mg/L), and ND for borehole and (6.50±0.14 mg/L), (75.50±2.12 mg/L), (282.00±2.83 mg/L), (3.83±0.03 mg/L), (17.43±0.66 NTU), (1.73±0.33 mg/L), ND, (0.10±0.01 mg/L), (5.00±0.75 mg/L) for well. For metals; Cooper Lead, Zinc, Iron, Chromium and Cadmium (0.27±0.03 mg/L), (0.34±0.05 mg/L), (4.32±0.32 mg/L), (0.05±0.02 mg/L), (0.56±0.05 mg/L), (0.96±0.01 mg/L) for borehole and (0.41±0.02 mg/L), (0.94±0.05 mg/L), (0.62±0.02 mg/L), (2. 27±0.38 mg/L), (0.05±0.02 mg/L), (1.16±0.22 mg/L) for well in Karu. For Nyanya (0.26±0.02 mg/L), (0.64±0.02 mg/L), (0.51±0.00 mg/L), (2.31±0.44 mg/L), (0.06±0.03 mg/L), (0.94±0.01 mg/L) for borehole and (0.37±0.04 mg/L), (0.63±0.01 mg/L), (0.46±0.02 mg/L), (3.04±0.06 mg/L), (0.06±0.03 mg/L), (0.71±0.01 mg/L) for well water. For physicochemical parameters; pH, Conductivity, TDS, DO, TH and Nitrate are within WHO and NSDWQ standards for both water samples in the two locations while Turbidity is higher (14.43±0.66 - 17.43±0.66 NTU) for wells. Chloride has (0.01±0.01 mg/L) in borehole water from Karu. Sulphate has (5.00±0.75mg/L) in well water from Nyanya. For metals, the concentration for both water samples from the two locations are higher except for Copper and Iron (0.26±0.02 - 0. 41±0.02 mg/L) and (0.46±0.02 - 0.62±0.02 mg/L) which are within WHO and NSDWQ standards. The water samples are polluted by some contaminants that are higher than the standards. It is therefore recommended that the water be treated before use.