Investigation on the quality of water from Jabi Lake in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Surface water may constitute public health issues if the water is contaminated. Consequent upon this assertion, the physicochemical parameters and tr ace metal concentration of Jabi Lake surface water were analysed and compared with WHO standards. Sixteen water samples were taken for analysis from Jabi Lake within Abuja in Nigeria. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) were adopted in the analysis of the physicochemical parameters while heavy metals ions determination was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results obtained revealed marked differences in the levels of some physicochemical properties and trace metal ion concentration in the surface water samples when compared with WHO standards. Though most physicochemical parameters were within acceptable and safe limits, but with nitrate having higher concentrations. The concentrations of manganese, iron, cobalt, lead and chromium were well above the WHO maximum permissible limits for surface water. The pollution index of manganese, iron, cobalt, lead and chromium were above unity (1.0), indicating very high level of pollution. The results of the physicochemical and trace metal analysis when compared with WHO suggest that the water samples from Jabi Lake was not suitable for drinking while the concentrations of the metal ions were found decreasing in this order; Pb ˃Fe˃Cr˃Mn˃Co˃Zn.