Determination of heavy metals, physicochemical and bacteriological Profile in Water from Selected Bore Holes within Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metal, physicochemical and bacteriological profile of borehole water from selected locations in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State was carried out. Borehole water which was collected from three locations in Mararaba, New Karu, Masaka, Auta Balefi and Uke were subjected to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to determine the heavy metal level and their physicochemical and bacteriological status. While the mean concentration of chromium was higher than the world health organization (WHO) standard for drinking water, the levels of copper, arsenic, cobalt and nickel were lower than the standard. The result also revealed that manganese, cadmium, lead and zinc were not within the detectable region of AAS in the borehole water. Iron concentration was within the WHO specification. Chromium levels which are above the WHO standard for drinking water may be adduced to surface contamination arising from pollution, environmental and topographical sources. Iron, copper and nickel levels which were below WHO standard may not predispose to renal failure. Physicochemical analysis indicated that all parameters assessed were either below or within the WHO standard. Microbiological analyses showed no visible presence of bacteria except for traces of E. coli and total coliform observed in Masaka as well as those of S. typhi in New Karu and V. cholerae observed in Uke. The alterations in metal and physicochemical parameters showed that the sample may not have deleterous effect. The lack of visible presence of bacteria in most locations and little traces in few locations are not sufficient enough to cause tyhoid and cholera.