Quality Assessment of Surface and Ground Water of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The quality of water from surface and ground water sources in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State was studied to determine their suitability or otherwise for drinking and domestic purposes. Nine (9) samples, three (3) each from streams, dug wells and boreholes were randomly collected, during the dry season, in the months of October and November, 2016. The samples were analysed, and the values compared with WHO and NAFDAC standards to ascertain their compliance. The results of the analysis revealed that the physico-chemical parameters studied and concentrations of heavy metals determined, falls within the maximum permissible limits of WHO and NAFDAC standards for drinking water. However, the water samples were predominantly alkaline (pH 6.30 ± 0.10 to 7.00 ± 0.10), (6.70 ± 0.20 to 7.30 ± 0.20), and (7.60 ±0.20 to 8.20 ± 0.10), for boreholes, dug wells and streams respectively. The heavy metals concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method. The suitability of water for domestic and drinking purposes indicates that water samples were within the standards prescribed for potable waters.