Evaluation of physicochemical and heavy metals in sources of water is necessary considering the increased rate of urbanization and anthropogenic activities and lack of suitable environmental measures to reduce water pollution. In this study water samples from boreholes (B), wells (W) and river (R) along Rima river basin in Kebbi state were analyzed for pH, Turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Temperature, and metals including Na, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, As, Co, Pb, Mn and Cr. The samples were analyzed using AAS (Shimadzu AA6300, UK), at UDUS Sokoto. The variations in these parameters in the sources of water were assessed using ANOVA. For pH the results show that R>B>W though, all were within the (5.5-8.5) WHO recommended limits, for Turbidity no significant difference in all the source samples and were found to be above the (5.0 NTU) allowable limits, this could be attributed to domestic discharge. EC and TDS show no significant difference among the sources, however, were found to be below the WHO permissible limits. COD varies as W > B > R and the entire values were shown to be higher than (W>R which were found to be lower than the ( B>W and the concentrations in all the sources were within the tolerable standards (150mg/L). The variation could be associated to sediments in the river. The amount of all the heavy metals showed no significant difference among all the sources. And were all below the WHO standard except, for Cd and As which revealed higher concentrations than the (0.003 and 0.01 mg/L) respectively WHO permissible limits among all the sample sources. The amount of Cd and As in the sample sources may be attributed to run-off from farms as a result of fertilizers application, agrochemical, domestic discharges and burning of fossil fuels. Therefore, agencies concern should create awareness as the effects of these toxic metals is hazardous to humans and the environment.
Key words: Evaluation, physicochemical, heavy metals, Kebbi State, Rima basin water
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