An Assessment of the Quality of Some Portable Water Obtained within Enugu Metropolis

Provision of clean water is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Water quality assessment as an ongoing exercise, in view of the threat of contamination from natural sources and human activities, plays a pivotal role in the sustainable management of water resources. Potable water samples were collected from Enugu Metropolis for water quality assessment. The physicochemical parameters were determined using APHA (1995 - 1998) protocols, and the presence of 7 heavy metals (Chromium, Zinc, Manganese, Silver, Cadmium, Iron and Lead) in the waters were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the physicochemical analysis of the four samples show a pH range of 8.60 - 8.95mg/l; this result showed that pH of the water samples were slightly alkaline and above the WHO stipulated range of 6.50 - 8.50. Acidity ranged from 5.00 - 6.88mg/l, while alkalinity values were between 7.52 - 13.00mg/l. The total dissolved solid (TDS) and total solids (TS) was present in very minute quantities and below their permissible limit of 0.45mg/l; while total suspended solid (TSS) was not present at all. The heavy metal analysis showed that all but 2 heavy metals (Cadmium and Lead) were below the permissible standard set by the WHO in all four samples. Cadmium was present in samples A and C with values 0.021mg/l and 0.006mg/l respectively, which is above its WHO limit of 0.005mg/l; while Lead was present in samples A, B and C with values of 0.021mg/l, 0.011mg/l and 0.015 mg/l respectively, which were above the WHO limit of 0.010mg/l. Given the well-documented toxicity of certain metals, there is a need for safety checks to be carried out in potable water companies to address the source of this contamination and ensure production of safer drinking water.