Heavy Metals Assessment on Water Sampled from Selected Boreholes in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out in response to the recent increase in the availability of underground water (borehole) as major sources of drinking water in kaura Namoda, Zamfara state, Nigeria. The aim of this research work was to assess the level of heavy metals pollution in the selected underground water. Twenty borehole water samples (BW1–BW20) were collected from selected area in kaura Namoda from month of March to April, 2022. Acid digestion and AAS were used for sample preparation and analysis respectively. the results obtained, shows that the average concentration value of Cd, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Fe are within the permissible limit of WHO and NSDW value except concentration of Pb 0.023±0.007, 0.021±0.008, 0.018±0.002, 0.020±0.006 and 0.016±0.001 mg/L in BW 3, 9, 11, 18 and 20 respectively which were above permissible limit for lead (0.01mg/L) and value obtained in BW 6, 8, 12, 16 and 17 for Fe are 0.821±0.004, 0.703 ± 0.431, 0.808± 0.006, 0.592± 0.103, 1.056±0.271 mg/L respectively. These values were above 0.4 mg/L permissible limit of Fe. Cu was not detected in all the water samples. In this case, possible adverse effects may result from ingestion of these heavy metals especially Pb from the affected boreholes. Therefore, there should be continues monitoring of borehole water in the study area.