Assessment of ground water from some agrarian communities of South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Drinking water samples were collected from natural sources (groundwater and surface water) in rural villages in southeastern Nigeria, and the results were compared to WHO and Nigerian drinking water quality criteria. To meet the study’s goal, 21 drinking water samples were collected from sparsely populated rural settlements in Ebonyi State (Ugwulangu, Okposi, and Uburu). pH, temperature, turbidity, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, and metals were all measured in the water samples. This study looked at eight metals: Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Ni. Except for turbidity, conductivity, alkalinity, Pb, and Ni, all metrics were found to be within allowed ranges. The metal concentrations followed the order: Ca > Mg > Pb > Fe > Zn > Ni > Mn > Cr. Metal index, degree of contamination, and hazard index were all calculated using the metal concentrations. The metal index and degree of contamination results showed that the water sources were safe to drink. The hazard index assessed children’s and adults’ chronic risk levels. By ingesting metals in water samples, the Hazard Index assessed the risk that users of water are prone to. Children are more at risk than adults from drinking untreated water from Ugwulangu, Okposi, and Uburu, according to the findings of a hazard index study. To safeguard children’s health, it is strongly advised that they be provided with alternative drinking water.