Description
According to WHO, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Cd is 0.003 mg/L, while for Pb and As are both 0.01 mg/L (or 10 g/L), and for Fe permissible limit is 0.3 mg/L. From the results obtained, it was found that out of the 81.48 samples where Cd was present, all of them had Cd content above MCL. Out of the 100 samples where Pb was present, only 22.22 samples had Pb content just within MCL in the wet season, and only 7.4 within MCL in the dry season. Only one sample had Pb content below MCL in the dry season. 62.96 samples had Fe content above the WHO permissible limit in wet season, while 92.59 had it above the limit in dry season. Out of the 70.37 samples that had As content presentin wet season and 81.48 in dry season, all of the values were found to be below MCL in both seasons. The results obtained from this study indicate a significant risk to the population given how long term exposure to these metals even in low quantities can affect their health, and since for majority, groundwater is the most widely used and reliable source of water supply in the area.
