PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BOREHOLE WATER WITHIN THE VICINITY OF KARU MUNICIPAL, NASARAWA STATE

Abstract

The evaluation of water quality parameters offers vital information for pollution management, public health protection, sustainable water usage, and climate adaptation. This study assessed selected physicochemical characteristics of borehole water in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, using standard analytical methods. The measured parameters included temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen, nitrate, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chloride, and sulphate. The mean values recorded were temperature (29.79°C), electrical conductivity (503.99 µS/cm), pH (5.97), TDS (253.80 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (4.21 mg/L), nitrate (15.33 mg/L), turbidity (0.44 NTU), BOD (3.63 mg/L), chloride (44.03 mg/L), and sulphate (12.40 mg/L). Most parameters conformed to the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits, except for pH, which fell slightly outside the ideal range of 6.5–8.5 in some samples. Overall, the borehole water was found to be potable and suitable for drinking. However, to ensure comprehensive water safety, further research focusing on the presence and potential risks of heavy metals is recommended.