Evaluation of Heavy Metal Concentration in Drinking Water Collected from Local Wells and Boreholes of Dutse Town, North West, Nigeria

Abstract

Water samples collected from Dutse Town, Jigawa State, were studied and analyzed for heavy metals. A total of 48 samples were collected from 24 different sampling sites in Dutse town namely: FUD, Gidan Dubu Yadi, Bakwato 1, Bakwato 2, Tashar Danwake, Fatara, Kargo, Garu/Emir palace, Fagoji 1, Fagoji 2, Zai, Jigawa Sarki, Kachi, Limawa, Galamawa, Dasina, Takur Adua, Jigawar Tsada, Takur Site, Dan Masara, Mopol Base, G-9 Site and Aminu Kano Way/Cikin Gari. The samples were studied and analyzed for eight (8) heavy metals namely; Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Nickel (Ni). The results obtained were compared with the international standards. The samples were analyzed at the Central Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used in this study and the average concentration of these heavy metals  are 0.0034, 0.0409, 0.0151, 1.8241, 0.01471, 0.2731, 2.2829 and 0.0433 mg/l for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Hg and Ni respectively. Among the analyzed heavy metals, Cd, Co, Cu and Ni were below the recommended level set by United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) while Fe, Pb, Mn and Hg were higher than the recommended level set by USEPA and WHO for safe drinking water. This imply that the water collected from these sampling areas were contaminated with heavy metals which may have serious health hazard to the people using such water for drinking and other domestic activities.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Wells, Boreholes, Drinking Water, Dutse Town