




































Asian Review of Environmental 

and Earth Sciences 
ISSN: 2313-8173 
Vol. 1, No. 2, 39-42, 2014 

http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AREES 

 
 

  

 

 

 

39 

 

Physico-Chemical and Microbial Assessmentof Some Well 

Water from Mista-Ali Town, Bassa LGA, Plateau State-

Nigeria 
 

Kangpe, N.S.
1 
--- Egga, E.S.

2 
---  Mafuyai, G.M.

3
 

 
1,2,3

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Jos, Jos. Nigeria 

 

Abstract 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

1. Introduction 
Water is very essential to the survival of all organisms and The human body is composed of approximately 70% 

water by mass [1].Safe drinking water is a human birthright as much a birthright as clean air. An adequate supply of 

safe and portable water assist in preventing the spread of gastrointestinal diseases, supports domestic and personal 

hygiene and improves the standard of living. However, much of the world’s population does not have access to safe 

drinking water. Lack of portable water threatens the economy of a nation and the people’s health in different ways, 

which is true of the Nigeria case that oil spillage kills all aquatic life form and leaves the people without good 

drinking water in some villages of the Niger-Delta region of the country, also indiscriminate dumping of refuse and 

other wastes into ponds, rivers, lakes and other water bodies in the South West [2]. The most important and life 

sustaining human drink is hardly found 100% pure in nature due to human activities and other natural factors. Many 

diseases in developing countries are caused by drinking contaminated water [3] And Ibe, et al. [4]. This is because 

dead vegetation, metal leachates from solid waste dumps; leaching of rocks, sewage, industrial wastes and 

agricultural chemicals return eventually to the river by run offs [5].The quality and quantity of water are affected by 

an increase in anthropogenic activities and any pollution either chemical or physical causes changes to the quality of 

the recurring water body [6]. 

As population increases, the need of water for domestic, transport, power, Agricultural And industrial purposes 

also increases. Government has been the major supplier of portable water for its populace in Nigeria. With the way 

population is increasing at a very fast rate and subsequent expansion in settlement, government finds it difficult to 

satisfy the water need of its citizens. This results in individuals and communities depending on other sources of water 

such as rivers, streams, boreholes and well. Apart from expansion as a result of increase in population, other reason 

such as crises has led to the development of settlement towns in Nigeria. These private water sources are not 

subjected to any quality standard before usage by the residents thereby resulting in the consumption of contaminated 

water. 

Jos the capital city of Plateau State, Nigeria has had ethno-religious crises for the past decade which has resulted 

in the development of new settlements outside the state capital in which Mista-Ali is one of such towns. Although an 

The Physico-chemical and Microbial assessment of well water in Mista-Ali were carried out to 

determine its suitability for domestic consumption. Samples were collected from eight wells in duplicate 

and analyzed using standard methods. The results revealed the physical parameters of the well water as 

colourless, odourless, tasteless, with total solids (240-370mg/L), Total suspended solids (280-320 mg/L) 

and Total dissolved solids (195-240mg/L). The chemical `parameter showed that the well has pH(6.9-

7.3) conductivity (2.0x10
2 

-7.0x10
2
µmhos/cm), alkalinity(12-28mg/L),Chloride (10-28 mg/L), Total 

hardness (180-320mg/L), Sulphate (280-300mg/L), and Nitrate (7.70-8.20mg/L) . Arsenic and zinc were 

not detected while the following metals were detected with the following concentrations Pb (0.003-

0.005), Fe (0.120-0.890),Mn (0.002-0.029), Ca (20.00-220.00), Cu (0.002-0.006), Cu (0.002-0.006), Cr 

(0.001-0.008), Ni (0.004-0.011), K (2.24-9.84), Mg (15.60-18.80). The physical, chemical and microbial 

assessment results were within the permissible standard for portable water. The well water in Mista-Ali 

can be used for domestic purposes and recommended that the water be analyzed atleast once every year 

to check for contamination. There should also be State Agency that would license well water to maintain 

high hygienic conditions. 
 

Keywords: Well water, Physico-chemical assessment, Microbial assessment, Trace metals, Contamination,      Nigeria. 

 

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Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 39-42 

 

 

 

 

40 

 

old tin mine village, it has metamorphosed into a settlement with a population of over fifty thousand inhabitants. 

Most residents do not have access to pipe borne or borehole water and have resorted to the use of stagnant water in 

the old tin mine ponds and hand dug wells as sources of water for their domestic consumption/usage. 

In this study, the work aimed at examining the water quality and microbial characteristics of wells that serve as 

the main source of portable water for the inhabitants/residents of Mista Ali, a settlement close to Jos metropolis. 

 

2. Materials/Methods 
The samples containers (one litre plastic container with a screw cap) were washed properly with detergent, 

leached with conc. HNO3, rinsed with distilled water until acid free and finally with the water source. Water samples 

were collected from eight different wells into the prepared containers manually. The containers were labeled with 

masking tape containing sample number, date and time and kept in the laboratory refrigerator at 4
o
C prior to analysis. 

Samples for heavy metals analysis were preserved by adding 3 drops of conc. HNO3.The water samples for 

bacteriological analysis were collected in sterilized neutral glass bottles of 120ml capacity with stoppers and kept in 

the refrigerator pending analysis. Colour, odour and taste were analysed with sense organs. The temperature of the 

water sample at point of collection  was determined using a mercury in glass thermometer (British standard, BS 593) 

while the pH was determined using a Philips model PW 9418 pH meter after the meter had been dully calibrated with 

standard buffers of pH 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0 [7]. Conductivity was determined using the bridge type M.C 3 conductivity 

meter calibrated in limbos. Alkalinity, total hardness, and chlorides were determined by titrimetric method. Total 

solids and total dissolved solids were determined by gravimetric technique.Sulphates were done by turbidimetric  

technique while metallic elements including heavy metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy 

model VGB 210 system. Microbial analysis were carried out by pour plating method using serial dilution technique 

[8]. 

 

3. Results  
 

Table-1.Results of the Physical Parameters of Well Waters in Mista Ali Town. 

parameters  

1 

 

2 

Sample  

3  

Numbers 

4 

 

5 

 

6 

 

7 

 

8 

Temperature (
o
C) 28.00 27.90 28.10 27.80 28.10 28.40 27.80 28.00 

Color colorless colourless colourless colourless colourless colourless colourless colourless 

Odor odorless odorless odorless odorless odorless odorless odorless odorless 

Taste unobj unobj unobj unobj unobj unobj unobj unobj 

TS(mg/l) 240 290 370 255 260 300 310 300 

TSS(mg/l) 320 220 300 310 315 280 275 300 

TDS (mg/l) 215 200 220 195 210 210 240 210 
TSS-total suspended solids, TS-Total solids, TDS-total dissolved solids, unobj-unobjectionable 

 
Table-2. Chemical Parameters of Well Waters in Mista Ali town. 

parameters  

1 

 

2 

Sample 

3 

Number 

4 

 

5 

 

6 

 

7 

 

8 

Conductivity 

(µmhos/cm) 

2.0x10
2 

4.0x10
2 

8.0x10
2
 5.0x10

2
 4.0x10

2
 6.0x10

2
 7.0x10

2
 6.0x10

2
 

Alkalinity (mg/l) 28.00 16.00 16.00 12.00 24.00 20.00 18.00 23.00 

Chlorides (mg/l) 12.00 28.00 12.00 16.00 16.00 12.00 10.00 18.00 

Total hardness 

(mg/l) 

270.00 280.00 252.00 280.00 140.00 180.00 300.00 320.00 

Sulphate (mg/l) 300.00 320.00 280.00 200.00 300.00 290.00 300.00 310.00 

Nitrate (mg/l) 8.00 7.80 8.00 7.60 6.00 8.20 8.00 7.70 

pH 7.0 7.2 6.9 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.2 7.0 

 

Table-3. Metal content concentration (mg/l) of the well waters in Mista Ali 

Parameters  

1 

 

2 

Sample 

3 

Number 

4 

 

5 

 

6 

 

7 

 

8 

Zn ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 

Pb 0.005 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.003 0.003 0.004 

Fe 0.890 0.180 0.780 0.326 0.430 0.120 0.180 0.170 

Mn 0.029 0.025 0.011 0.012 0.016 0.001 0.002 0.020 

Ca 220.00 20.00 40.00 100.00 120.00 100.00 130.00 80.00 

Cu 0.002 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.006 0.005 

Cr 0.006 0.008 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.002 

Ni 0.008 0.004 0.007 0.008 0.011 0.006 0.007 0.008 

K 2.240 3.170 9.840 5.470 6.200 5.300 6.000 5.400 

Mg 18.400 17.000 16.600 15.600 12.700 18.000 12.000 18.800 

As ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 39-42 

 

 

 

 

41 

 

Table-4. Microbiological analysis of well waters of Mista Ali 

Sample number MPN/100ml/l of total coliform 

1 50.30 

2 57.20 

3 26.00 

4 24.00 

5 55.00 

6 56.00 

7 31.00 

8 80.00 

 

4. Discussion 
Table 1 presents the physical parameters of the sampled well waters. The results show that the temperature 

ranged between 27.80 and 28.00
0
C. Temperature is one of the most important parameters for aquatic environment 

because all the physical, chemical and biochemical properties are governed by it [9]. All the values are lower than 

the ones reported by Amoo and Akinbode [10] for well waters in Minna and environs but close to the values reported 

for shallow wells near dump sites in Akure [11]. Although there is a seasonal fluctuation in well water temperature 

values, this may be due to function of the climatic condition at a particular geographical location and period. The 

sampled water are colourless, odourless and has unobjectionable taste which makes the water aesthetically 

acceptable [8]. The values of the TS, TSS and TDS ranged between 240-370, 220-315 and 195-240mg/L 

respectively. These values are all below the SON [12] and WHO [13] maximum values of 500 and 600mg/L and 

similar to the ones reported by Ezeribe, et al. [14] for well water samples in Kaltungo, Dass and Langtang North. 

The chemical parameters are shown in Table 2 for the sampled well waters. The conductivity ranged between 

2.0x10
2
 and 8.0x10

2
µmhos/cm. These values are below the highest permissible values recommended by SON [12] of 

900µmhos/cm and WHO [13] 1000µmhos/cm. These values are higher than the values reported by Ezeribe et al for 

Dass, Kaltungo and Langtang. The difference may be due to difference in geochemical conditions and soluble ions in 

the locations analysed. The total alkalinity of the samples which ranged between 12.00 and 28.00mg/L are below the 

maximum desirable level of 100mg/L for drinking water. The low values of alkalinity indicate absence or low 

amount of carbonates and bicarbonates in the well waters which contributes to the hardness of the water. The values 

of the chloride in the sampled waters also fall within the 100mg/L recommended for drinking water. Chlorides 

results from the leaching of chloride containing rocks and soils with which the water comes in contact. Also 

chlorides are the most stable components in water and its concentration is largely unaffected by most natural 

physico-chemical and biochemical processes, hence its value in water is a useful measure in water sample. The total 

hardness and sulphate values of 140-300mg/L and 200-310mg/L shows that the sampled well waters were fairly soft, 

being within WHO limits of 400 and 500mg/L respectively. This further explains the absence or low amount of 

carbonates and bicarbonates that may cause poor lather formation and scales in boilers. The nitrate content of all the 

well waters 10.00-18.00mg/L is within the SON permissible limits of 100mg/L. Nitrates indicates the presence of 

oxidized organic matter. Excess nitrates cause methemoglobin as blue baby disease and also indicates presence of 

other serious residential or agricultural contaminants such as bacteria, fertilizers and pesticides [15]. The pH values 

range of 6.9 -7.3 are within the permissible level recommended by WHO of 6.5-7.85.It is in agreement with what 

was reported in other researches in similar studies. Low pH values causes corrosion which can lead to leaching of 

household common metals and increase the toxic and fowl smelling hydrogen sulphide [10]. 

Table 3 shows the level of Pb, Fe, Mn, Ca, Cu, Cr, Ni, K and Mg in the sampled well waters. Pb concentration of 

(0.003-0.005mg/L) shows that the sampled waters are not exposed to indiscriminate disposal of lead battery. Lead 

even at low concentration is known to be toxic and has no known function in biochemical process. It can impair the 

nervous system and affect foetus, infants and children resulting in lowering of intelligent quotient even at its lowest 

dose [16]. Fe concentration of (0.120-0.590 mg/L) is within the permissible level of SON and WHO, high 

concentration could give rise to iron-dependent bacteria which in turn can cause further deterioration in the quality of 

water through the development of slimes and unobjectionable odour. Also high concentration of iron could causes 

haemasiderosis. Mn concentration of (0.011-0.029 mg/L) is within the WHO and SON permissible level, this could 

also be because of no direct contact with pipes and taps. It is an essential element and has a moderate toxicity. It has 

being implicated in neurological problems especially when inhaled. Calcium concentration is between (20.00-220.00 

mg/L) for the wells. Copper concentration of (0.02-0.06 mg/L) is within the SON and WHO permissible level. 

Copper is an essential metal and play an important role in enzyme activities [17]. Chromium concentration (0.011-

0.006 mg/L) is within the permissible level. The metal is essential to life and its deficiency results in diabetic 

mellitus and increase the toxicity of lead [17]. Ni (0.004-0011 mg/L), K (2.24-9.80 mg/L) and Mg (12.70-18.00 

mg/L) were within the permissible level for portable water. Zn and As were not detected. The observed trend could 

be as a result of the geographical location of the wells. 

The results for the microbial analysis are shown in Table 4, which indicates very low coliform counts for all the 

wells, indicating few presence of coliform.The coliform counts are all below the standard of 3MPN/mL for coliform 

in drinking water [18]. This can be due to the fact that all the sampled well water were ringed and properly covered 

preventing entrance of dirts into the well water. 

 

5. Conclusion 
All the water quality parameters examined for well waters in Mista-Ali town, Bassa Local Government Area 

Plateau State revealed that the well water is fairly soft, has low level of trace metals and  absence of micro organism 

that are harmful. It is recommended that the settlers/inhabitants can use their well water for domestic purposes and 

also advised to carry out analysis on the Well Water at least once every year because groundwater movement is 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 39-42 

 

 

 

 

42 

 

usually slow, polluted water may go undetected for a long time as most contamination is discovered only after 

drinking water has been affected and people become ill. Government should also involve health workers in giving 

awareness to inhabitants on use of safe water. 

 

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