A priminary Assessment of Groundwater Quality of Some Shallow Wells around Kaduna Metropolis, North Central, Nigeria

This paper presents the results of chemical analyses of groundwater samples obtained from twelve hand-dug wells located in parts of Kaduna town and environs in the Basement Complex of Nigeria. The results are evaluated with a view to determining the quality in terms of the chemistry of the groundwater within this area. The Ca2\ Mg2+, NO?', SO,2- and Cl" concentration level of 0.2 -32.1 mg/I, 0.4 - 2.6 mg/1, 2.0 - 9. 0 mg/1, 3.0 - 12.0 mg/1, and 9.0 - 60. 0 mg/I respectively for water samples are lower than the World Health Organization (WHO 2004) recommended highest desirable level of 75, 59, 45,200, and 200 mg/I respectively. No trace of iron and zinc was found in the area. The total hardness concentration level of 0.19 - 4.88 mg/1 are lower than World Health Organization WHO (2004) recommended highest desirable levels of 100 mg/I. 'flic pi 1 values (3.9 - 5.7 units) falls below the maximum permissible levels of 6.5 - 9.2 units. The piper trilincar diagram shows that the chemical properties of all the sample are dominated by alkaline earths elements. The water is slightly acidic with high percentage of hydrocarbonate ion and low percentage of sulphate and chloride ion. It is concluded that the acidity of the groundwater could be due to pollution from the industry and hence remedial solution suggested.