ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FROM INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF SANGO OTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

High concentration of contaminants in drinking water can affect human health. This study assessed quality of groundwater at industrial and residential areas of Sango Ota, Ogun State. Water samples were collected in triplicates from 8 wells at industrial and residential areas and analyzed for its physicochemical properties. The pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid (TDS), nitrate, sulphate, total suspended solid (TSS), total hardness (TH), iron, zinc, copper, lead, nickel, chromium and cadmium concentrations in the water samples were determined following American Public Health Association (APHA) procedure. Results showed that pH of 50 % of the wells were lower than minimum limit of 6.5 recommended by WHO. Sulphate, TH and iron in the water were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at residential area than industrial area. Electrical conductivity exhibited significant (p < 0.01) correlation with TDS (r = 0.701**) and NO32- (r = 0.922**) at residential area. At the industrial area however, concentration of salts in water samples was highly associated with SO42- (r = 0.864**) and Cd (r = 0.587**). Across locations of groundwater, iron and lead were above allowable WHO limits in drinking water. Cadmium was also above drinking limit at location T4 of the residential area. Consumers of groundwater in the study area are prone to health related challenges of heavy metal toxicity.