Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Pollution Indices in Groundwater from Basement Aquifers of Kibiya, Northwestern Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1017-5963Keywords:
Groundwater quality, Heavy metals, Pollution indices, Basement aquifer, Potentially toxic elements, Kibiya, Northwestern NigeriaAbstract
Groundwater is the principal source of domestic and agricultural water supply in Kibiya Town and its environs, northwestern Nigeria. However, heavy metal contamination poses potential risks to human health. This study assessed the concentrations, spatial distribution, and pollution status of selected heavy metals in groundwater from local Basement Complex aquifers. Thirty groundwater samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, and F using Microwave Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES). Groundwater contamination was evaluated using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), and Contamination Degree (Cd). The results revealed that Pb and Cd are the dominant contaminants, exceeding WHO and NSDWQ drinking-water limits in 83.3% and 63.3% of the samples, respectively. Elevated concentrations of Fe (26.7%) and Cr (16.7%) were also recorded, while Cu, Mn, Zn, and F remained within acceptable limits. The HPI classified 77% of samples as low pollution and 23% as highly polluted, while the HEI categorized 40%, 36.7%, and 23.3% as low, medium, and high pollution, respectively. In contrast, the Cd index indicated high cumulative contamination in 86.6% of the samples. The study demonstrates that while groundwater in the area generally features favorable hydrochemical conditions, localized contamination by Pb and Cd poses a critical threat to water quality and public health, necessitating urgent management strategies. Continuous groundwater quality monitoring, improved environmental management practices, and treatment of contaminated water sources are therefore recommended to ensure the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources in the study area.
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