A Study of the Levels of Nickel, Iron, Cadmium, and Lead in Some Potable Drinking Water from Well Sources in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study looked into the levels of heavy metal concentrations (Ni, Fe, Cd, and Pb) in a portable well water sample from Dutsin-ma, Katsina State. A water sampler bottle was used to gather ten water samples from various randomly chosen wells. By adding HNO3, and HCl, heating the samples to 90°C and then cooling them, the samples were digested. Heavy elements were measured using a calibrated Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result indicates that the heavy metal concentration levels in a well water sample from Dutsimma, Katsina State for Ni, Fe, Cd, and Pb are in the range (mean) values of 0.005 \(\pm\) 0.0008 – 0.055 \(\pm\) 0.0024 mg/kg (0.021 mg/kg), 0.119 \(\pm\) 0.0011 – 0.7680. \(\pm\) 0006 mg/kg (0.3784 mg/kg), 0.035 \(\pm\) 1.8760 \(\pm\) .0092 mg/kg (0.6776 mg/kg), and 0.83 \(\pm\) 0.0010 – 1.19 \(\pm\) 0.0009 mg/kg (1.451 mg/kg) respectively. The well water samples are widely used by most of the populace of Dutsin-ma as the main source of drinking water. Very negligible levels of these heavy elements are present and thus pose no harm to the populace. However, constant monitoring of various water sources used for drinking is essential.