Assessment of Physical and Chemical Water Quality for Drinking Purpose of Some Reservoirs and Ponds in Rimin Gado Local Government Area, Kano, State, Nigeria

The study assessed water quality for drinking purpose of some reservoirs and ponds in Rimingado Local Government area in Kano region. The scarcity of drinking water in the study area lead to the consumption of untreated surface water directly from reservoirs and ponds. The research aimed at analysing the physico-chemical characteristics in the reservoirs and ponds in the study. The study investigated some physiochemical characteristics of the surface water in the area to ascertain the quality condition of the water, standard laboratory techniques were employed in the water quality analysis. The result shows that the levels of physical and chemical parameters are above national and international standards for drinking water. In all the water bodies BOD, phosphate, nitrate, turbidity, and colour were found to be above standards while DO, alkalinity, pH, taste and odour fall within the standard guideline limits. Most of the parameters analysed are above standards of NAFDAC, WHO, SON and FEFA among others. For this reasons the water in the six water bodies is found to be polluted. It is therefore recommended among other things that the water from these sources should be treated properly before consumption besides sourcing water from underground.