Assessment of water quality for selected boreholes and sachets water in Maigatari Town, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Eight water samples were collected, four from different vendors of sachet water and four from different boreholes across Maigatari town. The samples were analyzed for pH using pH meter; Electrical Conductivity using a conductivity meter; while Turbidity of the water using turbidity meter. TDS and TSS using TDS meter. The electron microscope was used to determine the microbial counts. The results of the analysis revealed the range of values for the four (4) sachet and borehole waters respectively as pH (7 – 7.6) and (6 – 6.3); Conductivity (181 – 600) and (413 – 998) µS/m; Turbidity (0 – 2) and (1 – 2) NTU; Total Dissolve Solids (128 – 219) and (131 – 405) Mg/L; Total Suspended Solids (62 – 85) and (71 – 88) Mg/L; Total Solids (227 – 288) and (215 – 476) Mg/L; Microbes (0 – 1) and (0 – 3) cfu/mL; Total Hardness (41.5 – 111) and (50.1 – 123.3) Mg/L. The result also revealed strong positive correlation between pH and Conductivity (0.780); pH and TDS (0.875); pH and Microbes (1.046); turbidity and TS (0.906); Turbidity and Hardness (0.933); TS and Hardness (0.972) in sachet water. While Strong positive correlation existed between Conductivity and TDS (0.861); Conductivity and TSS (0.809); TDS and TSS (0.941) in borehole water. The water quality parameters analyzed were within the threshold of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) with the exception of very few in one or the other samples. The parameters were significantly related to one another. It was however, recommended that the water vendors should improve the drinking water quality of their products and the officials of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) should ensure strict adherence to regulations for drinking water quality.

Keywords: Borehole, Sachet, Quality, Water, Turbidity, Conductivity, Total Dissolve Solids