Heavy Metal Concentration, Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Water Collected from Different Schools Along Airport Road, Abuja

Abstract

Fifteen water samples from Well and Boreholes were collected from different schools located in some communities along Air Port road, Abuja and were analyzed for heavy metals concentration, Physicochemical and biological properties using standard methods. The result of the heavy metal concentrations shows; Cd in mg/l (0.0883-0.1113), Fe in mg/l (0.0300-0.2298), Zn(0.0000-0.8888), Mn in mg/l (0.0497-0.4598), Cu in mg/l (0.000-1.6427) and Pb in mg/l (0.0000 -1.5453). The physicochemical properties showed; Colour-Colourless, Odour- objectionable, Temperature oC (21-31), Alkalinity in mg/ml(1.5-7.3), Acidity in mg/ml(0.8-2.2), Hardness in mg/ml ( 1.2-3.6), Appearance ( Some are clear and some are not clear), pH (5.91-7.56), TDS in mg/l (80-2080), Turbidity in NTU (0.2-3.1) Conductivity in mg/l(123-9385) NH3 in mg/l(0.014-0.077), SO42- in mg/l(25.87-186.2) and F– in mg/l (0-0.38). The microbiological results shows that TBC ranges between 30-TNTC, TCC ranges between Nil-30 and E coli is Nil in all the samples. Total Dissolved Solid was found to be above the SON limits. Concentration of Fe, Cd and Pb were also above SON limits. Total Coliform Counts and Total Bacteria counts were also above the recommended limits by SON. Considering the high level of some of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters and the high concentration of Pb and Cd, the water is presumed unfit for drinking, cooking and pharmaceutical uses.