ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF HAND DUG WELL WATER IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper presents the physicochemical parameters of well water in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from North Bank, High-Level, Tse-Poor and Kanshio areas of Makurdi metropolis over a period of two weeks and analysed for physicochemical parameters using instrumental methods. The results revealed that most of the parameters were within the limits of Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Parameters that were within the permissible limits in all the samples (100 %) were electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, chloride, fluoride and temperature. Their mean values were 262.91±148.33 µS/cm, 133.13±72.86 mg/L, 93.08±48.30 mg/L, 0.44±0.23 mg/L and 28.46±1.27 oC respectively. The compliance of other parameters such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total hardness, nitrate and pH with NSDWQ and WHO standards ranged from 50 – 91.67 % of the samples. Meanwhile the reference value for the level of total suspended solids in drinking could not be obtained from the available literature. It was concluded that the well water in Makurdi contains some properties at variance with set standards and should be treated before consumption. There is also a need for periodic assessment of the well water quality to guide against the consumption of water with deteriorated quality.