AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITIES OF WATER SOURCES IN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA.

Boyi, S., Yusuf, Y.O.*, Sawa, B.A. and Adegbehin, A.B.

The study was based on assessment of physicochemical qualities of drinking water sources in Kano metropolis. It compared and analyzed various sources of water in Kano Metropolis where ninety six (96) water samples were collected from open wells, boreholes, tap water and sachet water in the study area using systematic sampling technique. Standard laboratory analysis were carried out to determine the concentration of major physicochemical elements while major comparisons were made with World Health Organization (WHO), Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and Water Quality Index (WQI) standard ratings. It was revealed that all parameters tested for tap water were within permissible limits except for turbidity. For sachet water gotten from each wards, all values fall within the permissible limits although Dala and Gwale Local Government Areas (LGAs) showed relatively higher concentrations for total hardness. For borehole water, the values were within limits except the concentration of pH for Dala, Fagge and Gwale LGAs. In the case of well water, all values fall within the permissible limits except for iron. Also, copper in Kano Municipal is a bit higher than the Nigerian Standard while lead values are higher in Fagge, Nassarawa and Tarauni which all together makes the water unsuitable for drinking. The results based on WQI revealed that Dala borehole water and well water sources were above the permissible limit and unfit for consumption, while it has no tap water source. In Kano municipal and Gwale borehole water, tap water and well water sources are all above permissible limits, while Nassarawa, and Tarauni had very poor water quality. Only tap water source from Fagge LGA and all sachet water sources across all LGAs are in good ratings fit for human consumption. If not for the waste implication, it can be said that the sachet water followed by tap water are the most suitable for consumption. It is recommended that the government, community and individuals should work collectively in making tap water available and providing proper waste management disposal systems that would take care of waste and refuse dumps within the metropolis.

Key words: Kano metropolis, Physicochemical, Water quality, Water sources..