Pollution Status of Selected Hand Dug Well Water Within North Bank, Makurdi

Access to portable water supply is one of man’s biggest challenges. Ground water is threatened with pollution and diseases such as cholera and typhoid are caused as a result of water pollution. This study assessed the pollution status of hand dug wells in North bank, Makurdi, focusing on physicochemical parameters, biological parameters and heavy metals. Water samples from twelve hand-dug wells located in four areas of North bank were collected and analyzed using standard analytical procedures and the values obtained were compared with the WHO and NSDWQ permissible standards for drinking water. The Palintest methods and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) were used for the analyses. Results showed physiochemical parameters such as temperature ranged from 34.57 – 35.5 C and this is above the permissible limit, pH: 6.43 – 7.00, conductivity: 268.33 – 568.33 μS/cm, total dissolved solids: 135.00 – 284.00 mg/L. YGW had the highest chloride 50.33 mg/L while HDW and FHW have the lowest with 22.67 mg/L, total hardness: 111.67 – 301.00 mg/L, which is above the permissible limit, nitrate: 15.37 – 38.60 mg/L. All the samples contain copper, lead, cadmium and zinc while nickel was found in all the samples except at ICW. Nickel ranged from 0.03 – 0.26. Chromium was below detection limit in all the samples. Cadmium, nickel and lead are above the permissible level. The study showed significant anthropogenic influences on well water quality, indicating the risk of waterborne diseases in the area. Regular monitoring and protection of hand dug wells are important to ensure safe drinking water.