Assessment of the Drinking Water Quality in Shendam Local Government Area of Southern Senatorial District of Plateau State, Nigeria

Introduction: Access to clean water is fundamental to human health. The importance of water to human’s health and wellbeing is encapsulated in the human right to water, reaffirmed by the united nation in 2010. The, aim of this study was to assessed the quality of drinking water in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: The water samples were collected from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria. 20 samples of the water were collected in the month of May from different locations within the study area. Methodology: The samples were analyzed using automated instrumental methods prescribed by standard methods for the analysis of water and wastewater and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 2010). Results: The results showed SO42- range from ND to 69.00mg/L; pH 6.93 to 7.69; NO3- 4.40 to 113.08 mg/L; PO42- 1.48 to 69.00 mg/L; Cd range from 0.002 ± 0.03 to 0.036 ± 0.005 mg/L; Ni, from 0.002 ± 0.010 to 0.162 ± 0.013 mg/L; Cr, ND to 0.337 ± 0.051 mg/L; Pb 0.012 ± 0.002 to 0.213 ± 0.029 mg/L. The calculated average daily intake (ADI) for Cd, Ni, Cr and Pb were within acceptable limits while the hazard quotients (HQ) for some of the metals were >1, while some are < 1 signifying that some of the population would experience non-cancer risks due to exposure to these metals in drinking water. The bacteriological study of the water samples also revealed that the water samples were all polluted with bacteria and coliforms. Conclusion: From the foregoing, these drinking water sources, therefore require treatment before consumption to minimize or avoid the incidences of water-related diseases.