Effect of Selected Heavy Metals on Water Quality: A Case Study of Selected Water Springs in Makindye Division

Heavy metal ions can be introduced into the water through several point and non-point sources including leather industry, coal mining, agriculture activity and domestic waste. Regrettably, these toxic heavy metals may pose a threat to both humans and animals, particularly when they infiltrate water and soil. Heavy metal poisoning can lead to many health complications, such as liver and renal dysfunction, dermatological difficulties, and potentially even malignancies. To mitigate the risk of heavy metal ion exposure to humans and animals, it is imperative to extract them from places that have been polluted. Several conventional methods such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, membrane filtration and chemical precipitation have been used for the removal of heavy metal ions. However, these methods have high operation costs and generate secondary pollutants during water treatment. Bio sorption is an alternative approach to eliminating heavy metals from water that involves employing eco-friendly and cost-effective biomass. This review is focused on the heavy metal ions contamination in the water, bio sorption methods for heavy metal removal and mathematical modeling to explain the behavior of heavy metal adsorption. This research can be helpful to the researchers to design wastewater treatment plants for sustainable wastewater treatment. Keywords: Heavy Metals, Water Quality, Springs and Makindye Division