Pollution Status of Groundwater Resource by Some Heavy Metals Using Index Approach in Some Part of Nasarawa Area, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater is the world's most significant natural resource providing water for different purposes, including drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigational. However, polluted groundwater may endanger human survival. This research evaluated the status of groundwater resource pollution caused by some heavy metals in some parts of the Nasarawa local government area of Kano State. 15 groundwater samples were collected from functional boreholes in the area. Heavy metals concentrations evaluated include Zn, Mn, Cr, Mg, Cd, Fe, Cu, and Pb and were compared with the World Health Organization and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality to establish their suitability for human consumption. Descriptive statistics was employed to summarize the analyzed data. Metal index was used to determine the pollution status of the groundwater. The result revealed that Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn with the mean value of (0.090, 0.160, 0.191 and 0.11) were found within the stipulated limit set by WHO (3.0, 0.3, 2.0 and 0.5) and NSDWQ (3.0, 0.5-50, 1.0 and 0.2), while Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mg (0.105, 0.127, 0.206 and 0.82) exceeded the permissible limits recommended by WHO (0.01, 0.003, 0.05 and 0.5). A high concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mg may be attributed to anthropogenic influences possibly deriving from improper municipal and Bampai industrial waste disposal. The values of the metal index (MI) revealed that the water is seriously affected by Pb, Cd and Cr, which can pose serious health damage to consumers. It is recommended that constant and continuous monitoring of Pb, Cd and Cr in groundwater be made in the study area due to its proximity to Bampai and Sharadda industrial sites.