Assessment of the Chemical Quality of Potable Water Sources in Abuja, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the level of some chemical parameters in samples of 5 potable water sources namely, tap, borehole, open well, sachet water, and bottled water. To further compare results with WHO (2011) standards to ascertain safety of water sources within the study area.
Study Design: Collection and analysis of samples from potable water sources.
Place and Duration of Study: 16 settlements within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) constitute the study area. Sample collection took place during the dry season months of January – March 2011 to avoid the possibility of contamination of some water sources from runoff.
Methodology: Stratified random sampling technique was adopted for sample collection from 16 settlements; one each from four identified categories of settlement within the study area. For data analysis, mean, standard deviation and minimum and maximum values were computed for every chemical parameter for each sampling location.
Results: The results reveal that pH, NO3, Cu, Al, TOT-N and Fe are not limiting factors to the quality of drinking water in the study area; the levels of Cd, Bicarbonate, NH4-N, Mn, Zn, As, Cr and Pb concentration in water samples are above the safety limit set by the WHO (2011); pH, SO4, NO3-, TOT-P and HCO3-, Cl in open well samples have slightly higher values than in samples of the other four sources of potable water. Borehole and sachet water samples have slightly higher SO4 values; bottled and tap water samples have the highest values of HCO3-, among others. Increasing anthropogenic activities that result in pollution are attributed to these levels of water contamination at the study area.
Conclusion: There is need for Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to focus on promoting the safety of potable water, most especially the sachet and bottle water sources; periodic, unannounced inspections should be conducted on facilities producing sachet and bottled water to ensure that standards are highly maintained. Lastly, efficient management of water resources in Nigeria’s urban and peri-urban centers is increasingly becoming necessary if the health and well-being of the residents is of utmost importance.