EVALUATE THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUNDWATER IN SOKOTO STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study evaluated the physicochemical and microbial quality of groundwater from six selected locations in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Measured physicochemical parameters included pH (6.8–7.5), temperature (27–31°C), electrical conductivity (EC: 280–450 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (TDS: 180–290 mg/L), turbidity (1.2–3.5 NTU), total hardness (120–210 mg/L), and major ions comprising calcium (22–48 mg/L), magnesium (10–28 mg/L), nitrate (4–12 mg/L), chloride (15– 42 mg/L), and sulfate (8–20 mg/L). Microbial analysis focused on total coliforms, which were present at 240 MPN/100 ml, while Escherichia coli was not detected in any sample. The results indicated that most physicochemical parameters were within the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ, 2015), whereas microbial contamination was observed in several samples, highlighting the potential risk to public health. The study emphasizes the importance of microbial treatment, proper sanitation, and water resource management to ensure safe drinking water in semi-arid regions.