An Examination of Spatial Variations in Rural Domestic WaterQuality from Selected Water Sources in Southern Gombe SenatorialDistrict, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined spatial variations in quality of rural domestic water sources from some selected locations in Gombe South Senatorial District, Gombe State, North-eastern Nigeria. It seeks to provides a regional level baseline information on ten physicochemical  parameters of rural water quality for the study area. Water samples were collected in a sterile one-litre bottlefrom 12 purposively selected community water sources for laboratory analysis. Results of Laboratory analysis of samples from each water source were spatially and comparatively plottedon maps using QGIS software against Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ)standard. Results were also descriptively compared with World Health Organisation (WHO) aswell as Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) maximum permissible levels forinference. Major findings reveal that pH, EC, TDS, Sulphate, and Nitrate levels in sampled waters are within permissible levels set by both WHO and NSDWQ, while fluoride levels fall below 0.6 mg/l in which literature suggest could be responsible for tooth decay prevalence in the study area. Calcium and Iron concentration in some of the sampled waters on the other hand were observed to be above maximum permissible levels set by WHO and NSDWQ. The study thus suggests the need for continues surveillance of domestic water quality to foresee any changes in levels that will be of public health disaster in the region.