Water can be defined as an inorganic, colourless, transparent, tasteless, odourless liquid, which is the main constituent of Earth’s hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms. The underground drinking water could be hazardous to the consumers when its quality is above the set standards. In the light of this and because drinking water is associated to life, Physicochemical parameters of water samples from selected boreholes and hand dug wells in Jega metropolis, Nigeria were investigated. The result showed uniform temperature range from 31oC– 32oC in all samples, with a mean of 31.28oC. The pH at all sampling points ranged from 6.45 – 7.12 with a mean of 6.68±0.00 which is within the acceptable standard limits for drinking water. Colour, odour, taste and conductivity, and hardness in both boreholes and hand dug wells were within the limits specified by World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian standard for drinking water quality (NSDWQ). The mean concentration of magnesium was found to be above the guideline values. However, the mean levels of calcium, chlorine, magnesium and bicarbonates in all the samples were within the WHO and NSDWQ standard, indicating no harm to the populace. Therefore, the quality of the underground water samples analyzed may pose no danger, as such the water is safe for consumption, agricultural, industrial and other domestic purposes.
Key words: Drinking water, underground water quality, physicochemical parameters, metropolis, WHO Standard.
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