Physicochemical Analysis of Potable Water in Baham Community, Western Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Safe and easily accessible water is important for community health. This paper presents the physicochemical analysis of water in Baham community, western region of Cameroon by collecting water samples from boreholes, well and stream. Physiochemical analysis using gravimetric and titrimetric methods were carried out on the collected samples and they were analysed based on their temperature, pH, colour, odour, total dissolved solid (TDS) and total suspended solid (TSS), sulphate, lead and chloride concentration as well as acidity and alkalinity. The results showed low pH values between 5.39 and 6.11 for all samples, an average temperature of 20°C, agreeable colour and odour for all samples but for the stream, which had colour, odour, very low TDS between 10-20 mg/l, TSS between 10 and 50 mg/l, acceptable for all but the stream and well samples which had a concentration of 30mg/l and 50mg/l respectively, very low chloride concentration level of 8-23 mg/l compared to WHO’s recommended 250 mg/l, very high sulphate contents of 246.9-493.8 mg/l and lead concentrations of 0.27-0.30 mg/l which is about 5 times the recommended 0.05 mg/l WHO permissible limit. The results showed high acidity (60-110 mg/l) and alkalinity (50-150 mg/l) values which fall within acceptable limits. From the results above, it was concluded that the quality of water in Baham is not fit for consumption according to WHO standards. It is acidic, lacks essential minerals, not properly disinfected and has disturbingly high lead concentrations.