Physico – Chemical Evaluation of Water from Different Sources Commonly Consumed in Enugu Metropolis Southeast Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Evaluation of physico-chemical substances in different water commonly used in Enugu metropolis were carried out between December, 2011 and November, 2012 to ascertain their respective concentrations.
The work which is a survey study, would help to reveal the level of contamination if any, and to authenticate, if the water samples are safe for drinking purposes.
The water samples consisted of bottled water, satchet water, tap water and well water. The pH, lead, zinc, copper and nitrate were estimated for, in the above water samples using standard analytical procedures. WHO standard recommended limit, was used to evaluate their quality.
The mean pH of bottled, satchet, tap and well water samples were: 6.98±0.34, 6.97±0.20, 7.0±0.14 and 5.83±0.91 respectively.
There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) in mean among all water samples. The result however showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) among the mean value of bottled, satchet and tap water samples.
It is also noted that among all the water samples, only the pH of well water, showed the value below the WHO recommended value.
Zinc mean value in ppm for the water samples were 0.008±0.01, 0.013±0.02, 0.076±0.14 and 0.184±0.03 respectively. This showed statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in their mean contents.
All other water samples with exception of well water, were within the WHO recommended value for drinking water as far as zinc was concerned.
Copper was not detected in bottled, satchet and tap water samples while 0.012±0.06 ppm was estimated value in well water. The value was also within the internationally accepted standard.
The study also recorded the value of lead in bottled, sactchet, tap and well water samples as 0.019±0.02, 0.016±0.01, 0.053±0.02 and 0.036±0.03 ppm respectively.
INTRODUCTION
Water is the most abundant liquid that exists in various places and parts of the universe. It occurs as a liquid or ice in oceans and rivers; water of hydration in rocks and minerals; and as water vapour in the atmosphere. Water is essential for life, second to air (Ababio, 2007).
In pure state, water is colourless, odourless and has no taste. It freezes and boils at zero degrees Celsius and hundred degrees Celsius respectively at atmospheric pressures. The latter property of water by extension, is very significant because it is used for calibration of thermometers (Mitchell, 1972).
Chemically, water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. To some degree, water can dissolve many naturally occurring substances on the earth. Because of this, water is prone to contamination by substances with which it comes in contact with and therefore not available for use in pure state (Hem, 1985).
This property of water particularly earned it the name universal solvent. In Enugu metropolis, like any other town in Nigeria, the supply of pure water for domestic and industrial consumption is inadequate.
World Health Organisation (WHO) report, revealed that over 61% of people in developing countries have access to water supply (Cheesbrough, 2002). It is regrettable that despite the ubiquity of water, accessibility of portable water is inadequate.
REFERENCES
Ababio O.Y., (2007): Water property; New school chemistry. 6th and Revised Editions. African First Publishers 2007 pp 295-303.
Adenigba, H.O., (2014): Government Urged to provide safe Water for Nigerians. Pharmanews April 2014 Edition pp 72.
Agarwal, S.K., Sharma, Av Talkader, G., (1990): Clastogenic effect of copper sulphate on the bone marrow chromosomes of mice invitro. Mutation Research 243:1-6.
Agarwal, S.K., Tiwari, S.C., Dash, S.C., (1993): Spectrum of poisoning requiring haemodialysis in a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Artificial Organs 16(1): 20-22.
American Public Health Association (1985): Heavy metals analysis Environmental Protection Agency USA.
American Public Health Association (APHA). (2008): Method for Analysis of Water. Environmental Protection Agency USA.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
Join Our Newsletter!
Don’t miss this opportunity
Enter Your Details
Be the first to comment