Physicochemical Quality, Microbial Load and Health Risk Assessment of Groundwater in View of the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, and 11 in Osogbo, Nigeria
Abstract
Towolawi Adeleke Taofik, Idowu Adekunle Adedoyin, Adegbore Abidemi Kafayat, Badmus-Oladapo Ramot Bolanle, Oladeji Francis Olusegun, Ajeigbe Oluwakemi Aminat, Akinwumi Isaac Tope, Adegbite Rhoda Titilope and Adetunji-Popoola Waliat Oluwabamike
Background: Good water quality remains limited, threatening public health.
Objective: The study assessed conformity of some household water with the SDGs 3, 6, and 11 beyond comparing the laboratory results with regulatory standards.
Methods: The Osun Water Corporation Laboratory analysed physicochemical parameters, heavy/toxic metals, and microbial loads of 10 households’ water samples collected three times across Osogbo and environs, Osun State, Nigeria. The average values were compared with four drinking water standards and recent works (2018-2024) and subjected to health risk assessments (CDI, CDIing, CDIderm, HQ, HI, and PLCR).
Key findings: The results indicated microbial loads (total plate count, total coliform, and Escherichia coli in 100 % locations); cyanide, K, Cr, Cd, and Mo (in 60, 90, 60, 100, and 80 % locations, respectively; N-nitrate; and Free CO2 location H for children and from 4.61E-4 at location C to 1.05E-2 at location H for adults. The HQing of Cd, Cr, and Cu was > 1, while the HQderm of Cd was > 1, indicating a low non-carcinogenic risk. The adults’ HIing was higher than the children’s, except at DEC locations. The PLCRing adults > PLCRing children > PLCRderm adults > PLCRderm children. The children were more prone to ingestion and dermal contact side effects than the adults. The HQing is generally > HQderm.
Conclusion: The study concluded that any parameter exceeding the limit indicated noncompliance with SDGs 3, 6, and 11 and suggested the need to ensure potable water for Osogbo residents. contamination as their levels were higher than the limits of WHO, UNICEF (2014), and NIS 554 (2015) while HCO3 - was higher than the WHO (2008) limit. The average CDIing values ranged from 3.77E-2 at location C to 8.54E-3 at location H for children, from 1.32E-1 at location C to 3.00E-2 at location H for adults. The average CDIderm values ranged from 2.48E-4 at location C to 5.64E-5 at