Water quality assessment: surface water sources used for drinking and irrigation in Zaria, Nigeria are a public health hazard

摘要: We assessed the quality and pollution status of source surface waters in Zaria, Nigeria by monitoring nature, cause extent Samaru stream, Kubanni River dam over a period 10 months, between March December 2002. A total 228 water samples was collected from 12 sites analysed for ten physicochemical one bacteriological indicators, using standard methods. Aesthetic impairment parameters were also observed. The mean values most significantly higher (P < 0.05) both stream river than dam. There no significant correlation faecal coliform counts (FCC) temperature (in range 15–33°C); pH (5.77–7.32); turbidity (1.4–567 NTU). high FCC ranged 2.0 × 101 to 1.6 × 106 MPN/100 ml exceeded WHO standards drinking used fresh-produce irrigation, correlated positively with conductivity 68–1,029 μS/cm); TDS (10.0–70.0 mg/l); TSS Cl (7.5–181 mg/l); PO 4 − P (0.01–0.41 mg/l); NO 3 N (0.6–3.8 mg/l) BOD5 (0.1–14.9 mg/l). main sources municipal wastewater, stormwater runoffs, ABU sewage treatment plant, abattoir effluents irrigation farms treated chemical fertilisers. conclude that these bodies are potentially hazardous public health proper needed warn against hazards health.