Assessment of Some Physicochemical Parameters in Borehole Water Samples Drilled Near Public Conveniences in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out to assess some physicochemical parameters in boreholes water samples drilled near public conveniences in Kano  metropolis, Nigeria. A total of 31 samples were randomly collected and analysed from different sampling sites for some physicochemical  parameters. The results for physicochemical parameters ranged as follows: pH (5.600±0.200-8.300±0.100), Electrical conductivity (93.333±5.774-  2756.670±30.551μS/cm), colour (0.000-403.667±3.055 pt. co unit), Turbidity (0.000-74.667 NTU), taste was detected in 57% of the water samples from  the sampling sites, Odour was detected in about 40% of the sampling sites. Total alkalinity (16.267±1.761-681.167±15.873 mg/l), Chloride  (23.667±4.099-641.367±20.496 mg/l), Total hardness (51.200±3.200-609.467±11.085 mg/l), Sulphate (1.333±0.289-15.000±1.000 mg/l), Nitrate  (0.013±0.006-23.233±3.493 mg/l), phosphates (0.013±0.006-1.967±0.115 mg/l). Sulphate, Phosphate, Nitrate, Total Hardness, Total alkalinity were  found to be within the maximum permissible limit set by W.H.O. The pH, EC, colour, taste, odour, Turbidity, chloride, contents were found to exceed  maximum permissible limit set by W.H.O. in most of the samples analysed. Analysis of variance shows that there is a significant difference at  (P<0.05) in all of the parameters analysed. It can be concluded that most of the physicochemical parameters analysed fall below the maximum  permissible limit set by W.H.O.