Analysis of Selected Physico-Chemical Parameters, Nutrients, and Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Samples in Halaba Town, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Residents in the Halaba town, SNNPR, Ethiopia have used tap water as the main source of water for their drinking and domestic purposes. However, the Physico-chemical parameters of tap water in Halaba town have not been studied and this study was aimed to investigate some Physico-chemical parameters and selected heavy metals in tap water samples collected from two sampling sites in Halaba town. All the samples were analyzed for selected heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, and some Physico-chemical parameters such as EC, pH, TDS, TH, turbidity, K, Ca, Mg, nitrate, and sulfate using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS) and Paline test methods, respectively. The mean results of the physicochemical parameters investigated in tap water samples collected from two sampling sites were found to be in the range: EC (193.3–323.3) 𝜇S/cm, pH (7.88–7.9), TDS (96.7–175) mg/L, TH (24-30) mg/L, turbidity (3.93–4.53) NTUs, NO3-1(1.64–1.75) mg/L, SO4-2(1.3–3.3) mg/L. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were found to be in the range: Zn (0.05–0.30) mg/L, Fe (0.25–0.50) mg/L, Cu (0.01–0.04) mg/L, Pb (0.01–0.02) mg/L, Ni (1.86–2.4) mg/L, Cr (0.08–0.14) mg/L, Mn (0.001) mg/L, K (44.3–88.7) mg/L, Ca (180–204) mg/L, Mg (6.3–13) mg/L. The study showed that the concentrations of Pb, Ni, and Cr were slightly higher than the maximum permissible limits recommended by WHO, USEPA, and EU standards whereas concentrations of K and Ca were found to be higher than the maximum permissible limits recommended by WHO. All the other selected physicochemical parameters considered were below the maximum permissible limits recommended by WHO. Furthermore, the concentration of Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were found to be below the maximum permissible limits recommended by WHO, USEPA, EU, Australian, Iranian, Indian, Malaysian, Newzlandian, and Ethiopian standards. Therefore, citizens in the Halaba town that uses tap water for their day-to-day domestic activities and drinking purpose could potentially expose to health risks due to high levels of Pb, Ni, Cr, K and Ca. So, it is recommended that the tap water in the study area should be treated before being used for drinking and domestic purposes.