Soluble and particulate metal contaminants in some hand-dug wells in kaduna metropolis

Water samples were randomly collected within the months of July and August 2011 from hand-dug wells in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters (pH, TDS, DO, TSS, Temperature, Conductivity, Turbidity, Hardness, Chloride and Sulphate,) of the samples were analyzed using standard methods. The results show that the pH values were lower than the WHO acceptable range for drinking water, while all other parameters were within the acceptable limits. The concentrations of Ni, Fe, Pb, Mn and Cd in these samples were also determined as soluble and particulate metals using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The mean concentrations of Cd in both soluble and particulate phases (0.004343 and 0.0048 mg/l respectively) were above WHO maximum limit for drinking water, while those of Fe, Pb, Ni and Mn (0.00087-0.0038 mg/l for soluble and 0.00115-0.0063 mg/l for particulate) were below the limits.