QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER SOURCES IN KEFFI AND KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, NIGERIA

The quality of water from boreholes and hand dug wells in Keffi and Karu Local Government Areas, Nasarawa State, Nigeria were studied to ascertain the suitability of water from these sources for domestic purpose. The study was done by analysing for some physicochemical parameters using standard methods. The parameters determined were temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, chloride, phosphate and sulphate. Water Quality Index for the different samples each was calculated to ascertain suitability of the water for usage. Results obtained for physicochemical parameters showed that COD had values higher than the recommended tolerable limit prescribed by Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) while all the other parameters determined had values lower or within the recommended limits. WQI calculated showed that water from boreholes in Keffi was good for usage but water from hand dug wells in Keffi and boreholes and hand dug wells in Karu was not suitable for usage as potable water. Statistical analyses done at 95% confidence limit (p<0.05) showed there was no significant differences between physicochemical parameters of water samples from boreholes and wells from Keffi and Karu except for turbidity. However, the water from the study areas have very poor water quality, and it is better for water from these sources to be treated before being used for human consumption.