Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties, Mineral and Heavy Metal Content of Drinking Water Samples in Two Communities in South-East, Nigeria: A Puplic Health Implication

The aim of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical properties, mineral and heavy metal content of drinking water sources in two communities in South-East, Nigeria and discuss its public health implication. The water samples were collected from two wells and two streams respectively in the two communities (Ishiagu and Ugwuaji). The physicochemical parameters, minerals and heavy metal content were analyzed using standard methods. The total acidity, total suspended solid (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, phosphorous, arsenate, mercury, lead, and cadmium were above both Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards for drinking water while iron was only above EPA standards. Ishiagu stream had significantly (p<0.05) higher level of most of the physicochemical parameters, minerals and heavy metals followed by Ugwuaji well then, Ishiagu well and Ugwuaji stream had the lowest. The result shows an indication of minerals and heavy metals contamination of the water sources of both communities. Therefore, it is suggested that these water sources are not good for drinking due to the possible health hazards that may arise from the consumption heavy metal and mineral contaminated water. Keywords: Water, minerals, heavy metals, health hazards, physicochemical parameters