Physico-Chemical and Trace Element Levels in Water from Dams, Rivers and Boreholes in Gombe State, Nigeria

The physico-chemical and trace element levels of water samples from Gombe Abba river, Dadinkowa dam, Balanga dam and boreholes from Kwadon used for drinking and irrigation in farms were analysed using complexometric method of analysis. In all the elements sampled, Nickel had the lowest concentration in all the sites sampled with a mean of 0.003±0.00 mg/l in Dadinkowa and Gombe Abba and 0.002±0.00 mg/l for Kwadon and Balanga dam.Copper had the highest concentrations in all the areas sampled with a mean of 0.61±0.32mg/l in Dadinkowa dam, 0.49±0.04mg/l in Gombe Abba river, 0.39±0.01mg/l for Kwadon and 0.30±0.01mg/l for Balanga dams respectively. The levels for the trace elements determined are in the order Cu>Pb>Cd>Ni for Dadinkowa and Gombe Abba while for Kwadon the order is Cu>Ni>Pb=Cd. For Balanga dam, the order is Cu>Cd>Ni>Pb. Statistical analysis using Kruskal-wallis showed no significant difference for all the elements sampled irrespective of location.