Physico-chemical, Heavy Metals and Radioisotope Concentratios in Underground Water from Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria Senatorial Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

The Physico-chemical parameters heavy metals and radioisotopes were analysed in drinking water collected from selected wells in three senatorial areas (Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria) in Kaduna state. The water samples were analysed using the American Public Health Association (APHA) standard methods for the physico-chemical analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) for the heavy metal determination and also the X-Ray Florescence (ED-XRF) for the radioisotopes determination. The results obtained were compared with the permissible limits recommended by the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. The results for the water samples are as follows: pH (2.06 – 6.56), Conductivity (0.14 – 0.78 mS/cm), Temperature (25.2 – 28.4°C), TDS (0.07 – 0.78 mg/L), COD (11.52 – 27.52 mg/L), Cu (0.0000 – 0.0560 mg/L), Cr (0.0005 – 0.0056 mg/L), Cd (0.0000 – 0.0040 mg/L), Pb (0.0004 – 0.0080 mg/L), Ni (0.0000 – 0.0048 mg/L), Fe (0.0000 – 0.0900 mg/L) and Co (0.0001 – 0.0040 mg/L). Thorium and Radium were not detected in the water samples collected from all the sampling locations. The water quality analysis results showed that some of the well water samples had pH, Ni and Cd values that were above the recommended limits and all the water samples had COD values that were above the recommended values and as such were considered not good for drinking.