Domestic Purposes Research Articles

PENYISIHAN KADAR BESI (Fe) DAN MANGAN (Mn) DALAM AIR SUMUR DENGAN MEDIA PASIR TERLAPIS MANGAN DIOKSIDA

Well water often contains considerable iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). The iron and manganese content often transforms actually clear water into yellowish-brown. When iron and manganese content exceed quality standards, it can harm human health. To manage iron and manganese pollutants in well water, it would require research to reduce iron and manganese deposits in an easy and inexpensive way for people who still use water for domestic purposes, according to the Indonesia republic's health minister No. 492/ Menkes/IV/2010. Based on preliminary tests, the results of the initial iron component analysis of 1.06 mg/L and mangan 0.98 mg/ L. The variable in the study is a high proportion of the media filters of greensand on every reactor which is 30 cm, 50 cm and 70 centimeters with 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes of operation. The reactor is four inches of PVC pipe and the reactor is 80 cm tall, 100 centimeters and 120 centimeters tall. The fe and mn levels that have experienced the filtration treatment of every reactor have generally decreased. The deposite-based percentage is 0.02 mg/L with a set of exclusion efficiency of 98.11% and between 0.048 mg/L and the results of 95.92%.

Multivariate statistics explaining groundwater chemistry, Asyut, Egypt

Groundwater is an important source for domestic and irrigation purposes in Asyut area. Water quality varied widely due to complex geochemical processes and pollution sources. Understanding the processes controlling groundwater chemistry is necessary to overcome related problems. Multivariate statistics revealed that groundwater is affected by anthropogenic recharge (agricultural/organic pollution), mineralization, and redox processes. Contributions from natural vs. anthropogenic sources explain the variance in hydrochemical data. Shallow wells are relatively higher in bicarbonate content due to oxidation of organic pollutants. Shallow wells anomaly high with iron and organically polluted are most probably owing to pipe corrosion in residential areas. N fertilization impact on natural weathering has been demonstrated. Groundwater is getting more mineralized toward desert fringes due to lithological and hydrogeological characteristics under unconfined conditions. Evaporation factor enhances groundwater salinity under aridity. Fe and Mn contents are relatively higher as the redox potential is getting more reducing. The current study will help in building suitable management plan to protect the aquifer.

Regional Scale Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination from Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction.

Concerns over unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development persist, especially in rural communities that rely on shallow groundwater for drinking and other domestic purposes. Given the continued expansion of the industry, regional (vs local scale) models are needed to characterize groundwater contamination risks faced by the increasing proportion of the population residing in areas that accommodate UOG extraction. In this paper, we evaluate groundwater vulnerability to contamination from surface spills and shallow subsurface leakage of UOG wells within a 104,000 km2 region in the Appalachian Basin, northeastern USA. We test a computationally efficient ensemble approach for simulating groundwater flow and contaminant transport processes to quantify vulnerability with high resolution. We also examine metamodels, or machine learning models trained to emulate physically based models, and investigate their spatial transferability. We identify predictors describing proximity to UOG, hydrology, and topography that are important for metamodels to make accurate vulnerability predictions outside their training regions. Using our approach, we estimate that 21,000-30,000 individuals in our study area are dependent on domestic water wells that are vulnerable to contamination from UOG activities. Our novel modeling framework could be used to guide groundwater monitoring, provide information for public health studies, and assess environmental justice issues.

Comparative Evaluation of Heavy Metal Concentration in Water and Sediment, Choba Segment of New Calabar River, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

The heavy metal concentration in water and sediment, Choba segment of New Calabar River, Port Harcourt was investigated between February and April, 2020. Samples collected from the three locations were analysed in the laboratory for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) following standard method of APHA. The mean values of heavy metal in water (mg/l) were: Cr (2.29±1.29), Ni (2.32±0.28), Pb (2.46±0.38), Cd (0.04±0.02), Fe (52.18±7.26) while that of sediment were: Cr (7.18±0.43), Ni (5.57±0.29), Pb (8.09±0.39), Cd(0.30±0.15), Fe (123.64±5.17). The heavy metal values showed variations across the stations at P<0.05. The order of concentration of heavy metal in water was: Fe>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd while that of sediment is Fe>Pb>Cr>Ni > Cd with heavy metal concentration in sediment higher than that of water while Fe and Cd concentrations were highest and lowest in both water and sediment respectively. All the heavy metals in water except Ni exceeded the permissible limits of World Health Organisation (WHO), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) while that of sediment were below the permissible limits except Fe. It was concluded from the results that Choba segment of the New Calabar River is under stress since the heavy metals apart from Nickel (Ni) present were above the permissible limit. This implies that the quality of the water is unsafe for use especially for domestic purpose if untreated owing to the on-going anthropogenic activities in the area. Therefore, regulatory standards for discharges from anthropogenic activities should be strictly controlled

Development of an automated bitter leaf processing machine

Bitter leaf is known to be a delicacy and nutritious leaf in Nigeria which is commonly consumed by lots of people. The bitter sap or juice is extracted for medical use or disposed, while the leaf is used for cooking. Manual processing of bitter leaf could lead to injury to the palm and fingers and such could lead to the contamination of the processed leaves or become avenue for infection of injury that may be sustained. Also, processing a small or large amount of bitter leaf for domestic or commercial use could be tasking. For this reason, an automated bitter leaf processing machine was developed in this work to eliminate the risk of contamination and injuries by reducing human intervention to the minimum. The machine is timing-based and comprises the following components: water heater (500W), electric blender (200W), microcontroller(ATmega8A), MOC3021 optocoupler, BT151-500R thyristor, Relay module 12v, Tact button switch, Solenoid valve, I2C LCD interface, voltage regulator L7805CV, MOSFET (IRFZ44 55V 49A), etc. The processing of the bitter leaf with different masses (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 kg) using a constant mass of water (0.5 kg) for every cycle was carried out at varying processing chamber (blender) spinning time of 5, 7.5 and 10 min. The results obtained showed that the total removal of the bitterness from the leaf was achieved at 5 min spinning and rinsing time, for 0.01 and 0.025 kg of bitter leaf. At 7.5 min and 10 min, slightly bitter results were recorded for processed bitter leaf masses of 0.05 and 0.075 kg. The results obtained show that the system is suitable for processing bitter leaf both for domestic and commercial purposes.

Mapping Prospective Areas of Water Resources and Monitoring Land Use/Land Cover Changes in an Arid Region Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Groundwater is a vital water resource for economic, agricultural, and domestic purposes in arid regions. To reduce water scarcity in arid regions, recently, remote sensing and GIS techniques have been successfully applied to predict areas with prospective water resources. Thus, this study attempted to spatially reveal groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) and to conduct change detection on the desert fringes of Wadi Asyuti, a defunct tributary of Egypt’s Nile basin in eastern Sahara. Eleven influential groundwater factors generated from remote sensing imagery, and geological, hydrological, and climatic conditions were combined after giving a weight to each factor through a GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) coupled with the weighted overlay technique (WOT). The results revealed six distinctive zones with scores ranging from very low (10.59%) to excellent (3.03%). Thirty-three productive groundwater wells, Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) coherence change detection (CCD), a land use map derived from Sentinel-2, and the delineated flooding zone derived from Landsat-8 data were used to validate the delineated zones. The GWPZs indicated that 48% of the collected wells can be classified as consistent to excellent. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and image classification were applied to the multi-temporal Landsat series and Sentinel-2 along with the InSAR CCD data derived from Sentinel-1 images to reveal dramatic changes in land use/land cover (LU/LC) in terms of agricultural and other anthropogenic activities in the structurally downstream area, which is the most promising area for future developments. Overall, the integration of radar and multispectral data through the GIS technique has the ability to provide valuable information about water resources in arid regions. Thus, the tested model is a promising technique, and such information is extremely significant for the guidance of planners and decision makers in the area of sustainable development.

Water safety, antifungal-resistant aflatoxigenic aspergillus flavus and other pathogenic fungi in a community hand-dug wells.

To investigate hand-dug well water used for drinking and domestic purposes in a rural community in Southwest Nigeria for water safety and fungal presence as well as to determine the antifungal resistance and aflatoxigenic potentials of isolated fungi. Water samples were analysed for risk of contamination, bacteriological and mycological parameters using a standard sanitary survey checklist and microbiological culturing. Isolates were identified and subjected to antifungal resistance profiling using the diffusion method for susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi. Multidrug-resistant strains were confirmed with DNA barcoding identification. Fungal isolates were screened for aflatoxigenic potentials by culture methods and confirmed by densitometric analysis. From the 23 hand-dug wells assessed, 56.52% had a high risk of contamination (ROC) score, nitrate >50 mg/L (73.9%), and the presence of total coliforms (100%), Escherichia coli (43.48%) and fungi (91.3%). Spearman rank correlation coefficient gave a positive and strong correlation between Total Fungi and Faecal Coliform (r=0.701; p=0.016; n=23) at 0.05 significance level (2-tailed). Aspergillus sp. (34%), Penicillium sp. (18%) and Rhizopus sp. (17%) were the most dominant fungal genera. Isolates were resistant to fluconazole (76.19%), ketoconazole (73.80%), clotrimazole (92.86%), griseofulvin (88.09%) and nystatin (100%). Penicillium and Aspergillus (50%) were positive for cultural mycotoxin screening. A strain of antifungal-resistant A. flavus produced aflatoxin B1 (752 ppb) and B2 (15 ppb). The existence of antifungal-resistant and aflatoxigenic fungi in water used for drinking and domestic purposes shows that filamentous fungi constitute greater threats than previously recognized and this call for a paradigm shift from the perceived safety of untreated hand-dug well-water.

Investigation of Air Solar Collector with Energy Storage for Domestic Purposes

ABSTRACT
 In the current study, a three-pass solar air collector (SAC) connected with a stone storage bed is investigated. The thermal energy storage was used to store energy during the day time and then re-use it at night or during the cloudy hours. Four solar air collectors were used in this research which were connected consecutively to the stone storage bed. High density black stones (440 kg) of different sizes and weights were used as a storing medium. The physical properties of the stones were measured in the lab. The experiments were conducted on clear and partly cloudy days for three random days at a constant air flow rate (0.0377 kg/s) for the climate of the Dohuk city, Iraq. The parameters that affect the thermal performance of (SAC) were evaluated with integration of the stone storage bed. The solar radiation intensity, air temperatures at different locations were measured. Obtained data showed that the stone storage bed gives a temperature difference of about 10℃ after sunset and lasts for about 4-5 hours. The used stone bed has the property of acquiring stored heat for a long time after sunset which was released at night or on partly cloudy days.

Design and Development of Wheelchair Cum Stretcher Mechanism

Abstract: At present in world, the number of handicapped individuals is increasing each year. Their mobility has become a serious problem and it poses a great challenge before the engineering and scientific community. It demands conceptualizing and developing effective solutions in the form of mobility aids. Various mobility aids play a crucial role to empower their disabilities and bringing them back to normalcy. These tools help them in transportation and also act as a viable substitute for physical walking in indoor and outdoor environments. Out of all the equipment, the most common are stretcher and wheelchair. Wheelchair finds its usage in hospitals, railway stations, airports, shopping malls, and even in household activities. Primarily it is used in hospitals along with stretchers. Owing to its large-scale application in commercial and domestic purposes, it needs a modification in terms of flexibility and interconversion ability so that the problems which are arising in individual devices can be eliminated and particularly it will be more beneficial in medical industries. This paper presents an idea about developing such a mechanism so that we can integrate the advantages of both wheelchair and stretcher. It should be ergonomically designed and all the safety standards should be met. This paper also reviews the various areas of development made in the past about mobility aids for the comfort of both patients and hospital staff

Bio-Morpheme as innovative design concept for “Bio City” urban structure in the context of water-saving and human health

This paper presents a novel model of an elementary autonomous housing complex called Bio-Morpheme, intended to be an element of a Bio-City's structure. Its novelty manifests from the idea of urban form integration with the form of the water transformation cycle in the building and its immediate surroundings. Key factors include the retention and utilisation of rainwater in the Bio-Morpheme. Another feature of the proposal is the potential to use Bio-Morpheme-like complexes as autonomous units or combine them into larger structures based on integrated water management in typologically diverse city zones. Define the urban and architectural features of a Bio-Morpheme complex allowed using the proposed theoretical model to verify the potential for comprehensive water management featuring the utilisation of rainwater and stormwater harvested from roofs, pavements, bicycle paths, and roads. The study assumed climate and hydrological conditions for Krakow, Poland, predicting the potential for application. The authors observed that a Bio-Morpheme's structure allows for incorporating 41% of the collected runoff into its water supply infrastructure and using this water for domestic purposes when the remaining water can be direct to a surface reservoir. The reservoir provides the Bio-Morpheme's residents with direct contact with a water surface and enhances the microclimate. The Bio-Morpheme model is a solution that allows for rationalizing processes in elementary urban structure cells, which has a beneficial effect on lowering the demand for grid-sourced water and the amount of sewage produced. It also allows for introducing a surface reservoir into an urban interior and guarantees the highest quality of the environment and the health of residents.

Domestic Purpose Hydro-Turbine

This From ever since hydro power works with the power of electrical production world-wide. It provides 20% of electricity with the help of small scale hydro, in a case of “Run-of-River”, where there is no dam or hydro storage, which is one of the most effective and environmental friendly source of power. Domestic purpose Hydro-Turbine summarizes the entirely utilization of kinetic source is going in vane in our day-to-day life and that can be used to brighten the darkness in different ways. Our project brings brightness on a very small and easy kind of machine. As we use harnessing, the power present in the flow of water in house hold pipes and change it in to a useable form of power, which can be used to lighten up the homes at darkness and power ails. Thus, creating greener environment by consuming less electricity in public sector.

Economics Evaluation of Ecological Services of Some Aquatic Ecosystems in Badagry Division, Lagos, Nigeria

Aquatic ecosystem has vast resources and ecological functions, however the economic worth of its services are often ignored. This study appraised the value of ecological services offered by some aquatic ecosystem (Gbaji, Agboju, Topo and Ajegunle) in Badagry Division, Lagos, Nigeria in relation to the current physical and chemical status of these habitats. Data were collected via random administration of structured questionnaires to 168 households across the stations. Methods employed for collection of information include stated preference, divulged preference and market value approaches. Data collected were tested by one-way Analysis of Variance while differences in mean were separated using Least Significant Difference (p=0.05). Results showed that the highest mean annual income from irrigation for farming (#55,730 ±9,156.6), wage/salary for Boat builder/Net maker (#182, 265.4 ±11,655), water for domestic purpose (#64,256 ±16,426.5), water for washing body or clothes (#54,119.2 ±9,642.4), and industrial/domestic waste (#500,658 ±25,600) were obtained from Ajegunle station. On the other hand, highest mean annual income gotten from ecological services at Gbaji station includes fishing (#351,440 ±15,680), fish for sale (#312, 618 ±26,465.5), Wood and wood product (#59,387±10,792), medicinal plants (#18,116 ±7,680), firewood for sale (#56, 456.9 ±14,316.5), firewood for cooking (#24,145 ±6,425), livestock watering (#235,385 ±35,617) and religion rites (#70,528 ±16,178). Agboju station had highest income in sand for sales (#135,126 ±34,124), transportation (#728,358 ±48,526), sand for construction (#67,426.8 ±5,392.9), and research purpose (#30,200 ±3,390). Topo station had peak (#45, 828.2± 12,654.6) estimated values on fish for household feeding. In comparison of estimated income with hectares of the water bodies, the productivity was in the order of Agboju > Topo > Gbaji> Ajegunle. In conclusion, the water bodies contributed significantly to the household economy of the local people and hence, it is important to protect and improve its management for livelihood enhancement, and secure their long-term ecological functions.

Assessment of surface water quality in a drinking water supply reservoir in Vietnam: a combination of different indicators

Eutrophication and water pollution have become serious aquatic environmental problems worldwide. In this study, four different water quality indexing methods, the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI), the revised Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI), the Eutrophication Index (EI), and the Trophic State Index (TSI), were used to investigate water quality and trophic status in the Tri An Reservoir (TAR), Vietnam. Nineteen water variables were monitored bimonthly between February 2018 and December 2019 to calculate these four indices. Although different input data sets were used, all the indices showed similar results in terms of water quality and eutrophic state. The CCME WQI ranged from 32 to 68 (median 36–48), which indicated that the water quality was classified between poor and marginal and was insufficient for domestic purposes. Similarly, the water quality was ranked between slightly polluted and medium polluted based on the revised CPI index, with the median values ranging from 0.72 to 0.94. In the CCME WQI and the CPI, the major parameters that contributed to water pollution in the TAR were turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical and biological oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonium (NH4+), nitrite (NO2−), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and coliforms. Regarding the trophic status of water, the EI ranged from 10 to 464, indicating that the reservoir was eutrophic, and the TSI values ranged from 53 to 89, indicating that the water quality was classified between light-eutrophic and hypereutrophic conditions. A temporal variation in water quality was found, with the highest levels of pollution recorded in June during the study period. Our results show that the combination of different water quality indices provides a comprehensive assessment of water quality in the TAR.

Soviet Tourist Maps: A Short Overview

ABSTRACT In recent years, many maps produced in the former Soviet Union have become available. However, researchers have focused on topographical maps or those of Western cities produced by the General Staff for military use, and less on maps created by GUGK, the state mapping agency, for domestic purposes, including tourism. By contrast, this paper focuses on maps produced for tourists, whether travelling by private car or on an organized rail or bus tour. The 42 maps reviewed take three main forms: those covering a single administrative region, ranging from an oblast to a Soviet republic; those of a specific tourist area or associated with a literary hero; and strip maps connecting major cities. The paper considers the general design and symbology used on these maps, tracing some of the stylistic changes and developments in the quarter-century prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Effects of snow and land modification on an andesite lava aquifer in Chokai volcano, northwestern Japan

Studied regionChokai volcano is composed of low-permeability andesite lava, a snowfall-influenced hydrological setting that has been little studied. Study focusSnowfall there is expected to decrease due to climate change and expanded quarrying along its southern foot. To evaluate the effects of future environmental changes on the groundwater discharged from springs at the feet of lava flows, which is used for agriculture and domestic purposes, we used isotopic, hadrochemical, geologic, meteorological, and topographic information to elucidate the recharge area, major recharge season, and underground flow of spring waters and surface waters at Chokai. New hydrogeological insights for the regionGroundwater and surface water are of NaCl type with high deuterium excess values, indicating a strong contribution of atmospheric deposition of sea salt aerosols during winter. Altitude indicators based on water H and O isotopic compositions and chloride ion concentrations suggest that the foothill springs are recharged mainly on gentle slopes below ∼700 m elevation. This area is generally covered with volcanic sediments, which contain wetlands and perched aquifers that continuously supply groundwater to the underlying lava through fractures and voids without thorough mixing in the lava aquifer. Anticipated decreases in snowfall and the removal of surface rocks may adversely affect not only the foothill springs supplied by snowmelt and the rice cultivation that depends on them, but also the wetland ecosystem.

Opportunities for the Scale-Up of Irrigation Systems in Ghana, West Africa

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports approximately 1.9 million hectares (Mha) total of potential irrigatable lands in Ghana. However, the total water-managed area in the country was estimated to be only approximately 30,900 hectares (ha) in 2000 or 1.7% of the possible area. The government ultimately intends to add a total irrigatable area of 500,000 ha or more, thereby increasing the total coverage to 28% of the country’s potential. This would be beneficial because Ghana is not currently agriculturally independent and seeks to make substantial efforts in the scale-up of irrigation technologies to decrease the country’s reliance on the importation of agricultural goods. Unfortunately, the state of available technical literature for the very specific subject of agricultural water resources in a small African country is limited and generally only thinly published. A successful review of the published literature was conducted by expanding the search parameters until an adequate level of material became available to accurately describe the situation. The adaptive review process to access progressively more relevant information is presented in the methodology. The country’s total water withdrawal was quantified. The constraints on water resource development within Ghana’s socio-political environment were examined, and opportunities for technical improvement were identified. If well-managed, the country’s surface water and largely untapped groundwater systems are sufficient to meet most domestic and irrigation purposes. This analysis should provide significant aid to the government, non-governmental organizations, and aid agencies working to improve agricultural productivity via the scale-up of irrigation systems in Ghana and other similar countries.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater and food chain with mitigation options in Bengal delta with special reference to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, situated in Bengal delta, is one of the worst affected countries by arsenic contamination in groundwater. Most of the people in the country are dependent on groundwater for domestic and irrigation purposes. Currently, 61 districts out of 64 districts of Bangladesh are affected by arsenic contamination. Drinking arsenic contaminated groundwater is the main pathway of arsenic exposure in the population. Additionally, the use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in crop fields in Bangladesh has elevated arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants. In many arsenic-affected countries, including Bangladesh, rice is reported to be one of the significant sources of arsenic contamination. This review discussed scenario of groundwater arsenic contamination and transmission of arsenic through food chain in Bangladesh. The study further highlighted the human health perspectives of arsenic exposure in Bangladesh with possible mitigation and remediation options employed in the country.

Experimental study of solar air heater performance by evacuated tubes connected in series and loaded with thermal storage material

Solar air heaters (SAHs) are present for many domestic and industrial purposes, such as food drying, space heating, and solar cooking. However, the field still needs further studies on improving its performance, especially with evacuated tube solar collectors (ETSC). This work aimed to enhance the performance of the SAH device by five evacuated tubes connected in series and loaded with storage material. Two concentric aluminum pipes have been welded from below and inserted into the evacuated tube, one to enter the air and the other to load the storage materials. The proposed SAH device provides a novel design that studies heat transfer and properly expands the system operating period. The experiment results were recorded at various airflow rates, with the highest temperatures for the device outlet being 110 and 118 °C at 0.006 kg/s, respectively, with and without storage materials. During the charging process, the temperature of the storage materials reaches 95 °C. Furthermore, at an airflow rate of 0.05 kg/s, the thermal efficiency reached maximum values of 64.23 and 31.02 %, with and without storage material, respectively. Also, the maximum useful power is 2836 W and 3190 W, respectively.

Environmental and Health Risks Posed by Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater in the Sunan Coal Mine, China.

Groundwater is often used for domestic and irrigation purposes, even in mining areas. Mine drainage, rainfall, and infiltration cause heavy metal enrichment, adversely affecting the groundwater and harming human health. In this study, water samples (October 2021) in the Suzhou southern coal mining area were analyzed for the heavy metals As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn to determine potential effects of heavy metal contamination on environmental quality and human health. It was found that 22% and 31% of the sampling sites had “excellent” and “good” water quality, respectively. Excessive concentrations of Fe and Mn were detected in 47% and 72% of the samples, respectively. The non-carcinogenic health risk values of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were below the negligible levels of health risk set by various environmental agencies. Content ranking was as follows: Fe > Mn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Zn > As, with Fe accounting for 43%. All sampling points exceeded the maximum acceptable level of Cr recommended by the agencies. Chromium, the major carcinogenic factor in the study area, contributed to 95.45% of the total health risk. Therefore, the authorities in this region must closely monitor three heavy metal elements—Fe, Mn, and Cr.

Bioavailability and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in salty water environment of Okposi, Southeastern Nigeria

This study is to determine some physicochemical parameters and potentially toxic elements (PTE) in water samples collected from a borehole, a stream and a lake in Okposi, Nigeria, for their quality status and the human health risk of exposure to the waters. The physico-chemical properties: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, nitrate and sulphate, were determined by standard methods, while the level of PTE contamination was analysed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The results show that the levels of physicochemical parameters in the water samples are within the World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible limit. The PTE concentrations (mg/L) in the samples are in the ranges of 0.12–0.35 (Cr); 0.06–0.19 (Cu); 0.24–2.45 (Fe); 0.0–0.06 (Mn); 0.00–0.75 (Pb); and 0.0–02 (Zn). The levels of Cr and Pb in all the samples, except Pb in the downstream water, are above the WHO permissible limits, indicating that the waters are contaminated and unsafe for drinking. PTE form complexes with anions in water at high EC and salinity which reduces availability of toxic metals to organisms. Therefore, toxicity of PTE in the samples is in decreasing order: Upstream > Downstream > Lake water > borehole water. Calculations of hazard quotients shows possible adverse effects on adults and children on dermal contact with the waters due to Cr. Children might get cancer due to Pb on ingestion of water from the studied borehole, the Lake and the Upstream waters. Statistical analysis suggests that the geology of the area influenced PTE contamination of the water bodies.Article highlightsEvaluation of the pollution status of the major water sources (borehole, lake, upstream and downstream) in the study area was conducted since the information will be useful for making decisions that will protect human health by the policy makers and the public.The samples from all the water bodies in the study area were contaminated by chromium. The borehole water samples were contaminated by Iron and Lead; the downstream samples were contaminated by Iron; while samples from the lake and the upstream were contaminated by Lead. They are contaminated because the concentrations of these metals in the water bodies were above the World Health Organisation’s permissible limit for those metals in drinking water. Human exposure to the level of these metals in the water bodies may lead to severe health problems.Based on the bioavailability studies of the metals and the physicochemical parameters of the major water bodies in the study area, the borehole water (ground water) is the safest (best) for drinking and domestic purposes, then, the lake water (safer), followed by the downstream water (safe), while the upstream water has the highest toxicity potential (not safe).