ASSESSMENT OF WELL WATER QUALITY IN ONDO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-1001-4510Keywords:
Groundwater Quality, Heavy Metals, Physicochemical Analysis, Agricultural run-offAbstract
This study assessed the quality of well water in Ondo West Local Government Area (LGA), Southwestern Nigeria, to determine its suitability for human consumption and domestic use. Rapid urbanization and a heavy reliance on untreated hand-dug wells have made local groundwater vulnerable to contamination from proximity to pit latrines, refuse dumps, and agricultural runoff. Using a stratified random sampling method, ten water samples were collected across various communities and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations. Physicochemical results revealed that water temperatures (28.20°C to 28.83°C) and Total Dissolved Solids (85.00 to 86.75 mg/L) remained within WHO and NSDWQ limits. However, pH levels (6.00 to 6.51) were slightly acidic, and Total Hardness (290.5 to 780.0 mg/L) significantly exceeded the 200 mg/L threshold, indicating high calcium and magnesium concentrations. Heavy metal analysis for Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, and Cobalt showed that concentrations were within permissible national standards, though Lead and Nickel were detected and attributed to natural leaching and subsurface geological formations. The findings suggest that while heavy metal levels are currently safe, the high hardness and acidic nature of the water necessitate treatment before consumption to mitigate long-term health risks.
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