Physicochemical Assessment of Drinking Water in Sokoto State University and its Neighbouring Villages

Abstract

A total of eight (8) water samples collected within Sokoto State University and
its neighbouring villages were evaluated. The parameters investigated are pH,
temperature, electrical conductivity, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, sodium,
potassium, lead, chromium, iron and manganese. Physicochemical properties
were determined using standard methods while metal analysis was conducted
using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results for physicochemical
parameters were in the range: 27.6±2.20-30.60±1.50 oC, 6.36±0.15-7.34±0.30,
602.67±7.64-1670.67±3.06 μs/cm, 71.00±2.00-260.33±5.77 mg/L, 0.013±0.001-
72.50±0.500 mg/L, 32.01±0.220-111.97±0.16 mg/L, 2.92±0.15-6.83±0.11 mg/L
for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, sulphate, chloride
and nitrate respectively. The values obtained for sodium, potassium, iron,
manganese and chromium ranges from 2.42±0.11-14.10±0.36, 0.43±0.01-
3.58±0.01, 0.0015±0.0003-0.4512±0.0187 and 00259±0.0052-0.7914±0.0075
mg/L respectively. Generally, temperature was above the acceptable limits
while electrical conductivity of the sample from the male hostel was higher than
the limit set by the Nigerian Industrial Standard. Additionally, the chromium
content of samples from both female and male hostels were found to be above
WHO’s acceptable limit of 0.3 mg/L while Pb was not detected in any of the
samples. Though some of the samples analysed could be use directly, the
results show that others would need to be treated before usage.