Water Quality Analysis of some Reservoirs in Kano State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67601/njbls.v3i2b.77Keywords:
Heavy metals, Contamination, Surface water, Seasonal variability, Anthropogenic pressureAbstract
Freshwater reservoirs are essential for agricultural production, fisheries, and domestic use in Nigeria, but increasing anthropogenic pressure poses significant threats to their ecological integrity and water quality. This study assessed the spatial and seasonal variability of selected physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal contaminants in Challawa Gorge, Thomas, Tiga, and Wasai reservoirs in Kano, Nigeria. Water samples were analyzed using multi parameter water quality meter and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Wasai recorded the highest electrical conductivity (713–738 µS/cm) and pH (8.82), indicating ionic enrichment. Water temperature was significantly higher during the rainy season compared to the dry season (p < 0.05), while pH was significantly higher during the dry season (8.46±0.26; p < 0.01) Salinity remained within the acceptable limits. Concentrations of cadmium (0.0083-0.1043 mg/L}) and lead (0.096-1.237mg/L) exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) safety thresholds across almost all sites and seasons. Chromium exhibited a significant rainy season peak (p < 0.05), whereas Zinc was significantly higher during the dry season (p < 0.05). The study concludes that heavy metal contamination in Kano’s reservoirs exhibits strong seasonal and spatial variability. Continuous monitoring, runoff control, and stricter industrial discharge regulations are urgently recommended to protect aquatic ecosystems and public health.
References
Abdul-Azeez, H., Jere, W., Abdussamad, A., & Kassam, D. (2025). Effects of Challawa and Tiga dams on the physicochemical water qualities of the below-dam sections of Challawa and Kano rivers, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 25(1), 25501–25519. https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.138.24660
Abdullahi, N., Igwe, E. C., Dandago, M. A., Yusuf, H. L., Sani, A., & Ali, H. H. (2025). Heavy metal seasonal variation in irrigation water along jakara river, kano state, nigeria. Fudma journal of sciences, 9(3), 134–139. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0903-3348
Ali, H., Khan, E., & Ilahi, I. (2019). Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of Hazardous Heavy Metals: Environmental Persistence, Toxicity, and Bioaccumulation. Journal of Chemistry, 2019, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6730305
Alkhadher, S. A. A., Sidek, L. M., Khan, M. S. J., Al-Habshi, M. M. A., & Kurniawan, T. A. (2025). Seasonal variations in water quality and hydrological dynamics in a tropical reservoir driven by rainfall, runoff, and anthropogenic activities. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 35589. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09808-z
Ameh, S., Isah, M., Tanko, D., Itodo, A., Yahaya, J., & Abdulkareem, F. (2025). Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination and Water Quality Parameters in Omi Reservoir, Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. Confluence University. Journal of Science and Technology, 2(2), 25. https://doi.org/10.5455/CUJOSTECH.251002
Attah, J. S., Stanley, H. O., Sikoki, F. D., & Immanuel, O. M. (2023). Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Selected Water Bodies in Rivers State, Nigeria. Archives of Current Research International, 23(7), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.9734/acri/2023/v23i7591
Awomeso, A., Gideon, U., Gbadebo, A., Balogun, G., & Abayomi, E. (2010). Towards Effective Planning, Design and Monitoring of Dams in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science and Environment, 45–63.
Ayodeji, O. A., Adewole, H. A., Obayemi, O. E., Kosemani, S. E., Ajadi, F. A., Adedeji, A. A., & Olaleye, V. F. (2026). Seasonal variation, heavy metal pollution indices and health risk assessment in the Esa-Odo reservoir, Nigeria. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 8443. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39049-7
Bawa-Allah, K. A. (2023). Assessment of heavy metal pollution in Nigerian surface freshwaters and sediment: A meta-analysis using ecological and human health risk indices. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 256, 104199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2023.104199
Gambo, T. A., Olaniyan, S. O., & Adegbola, A. A. (2025). A Systematic Review of Sedimentation and Water Quality in Kiri Dam, Adamawa State, Northeastern Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 1092–1100. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jul571
Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality; Fourth Edition encorporating the first, second and third addenda. Geneve: World Health Organisation, 2026. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO http://iris.who.int/
Ismail, A. I. (2025). Sustainable management of the Tiga dam and Kadawa irrigation area: Addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges in Kano state, Nigeria. Science, Education and Innovations in the Context of Modern Problems, 9(1), 245–264. https://doi.org/10.56334/sei/9.1.23
Isyaku, U. B., Attah, T. C., Abdulazeez, H., Muhammad, B., & Yahaya, S. O. (2024). Evaluation of Physico-Chemical Water Quality, Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Fish Species Inhabiting Thomas Reservoir, Kano, Nigeria. Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics, 21(2), 139–144. https://doi.org/10.4314/bestj.v21i2.15
Jolaosho, T. L., Elegbede, I. O., Ndimele, P. E., Marouani, M., Yusuf, A. O., Omoregha, J. K., Mustapha, A. A., Hungbo, J. J., & Rasaq, M. F. (2025). Seasonal and spatial variations of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in surface water of interconnected Nigeria lagoons experiencing distinct anthropogenic disturbances. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 38816. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22727-3
Kumar, V., Parihar, R. D., Sharma, A., Bakshi, P., Singh Sidhu, G. P., Bali, A. S., Karaouzas, I., Bhardwaj, R., Thukral, A. K., Gyasi-Agyei, Y., & Rodrigo-Comino, J. (2019). Global evaluation of heavy metal content in surface water bodies: A meta-analysis using heavy metal pollution indices and multivariate statistical analyses. Chemosphere, 236, 124364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124364
Magaji, A. S., & Rabiu, S. (2020). Birds of Wasai Reservoir, Minjibir, Kano - Nigeria. Science World Journal, 15(No2).
Magaji, B. (2023). Heavy Metal Analysis on Some Water Samples Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Food Science & Nutrition Technology, 8(4), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.23880/fsnt-16000315
Malami, D., Zakaria, Z., Mohammed, M., & Audu, A. (2014). Comparison of Levels of some Metals in the Water and Sediment from Challawa Gorge Dam, Kano, Nigeria. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 7(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v7i1.15
Monira, U., Sattar, G. S., & Mostafa, M. G. (2024). Assessment of surface water quality using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and multivariate statistical analysis (MSA), around tannery industry effluent discharge areas. H2Open Journal, 7(2), 130–148. https://doi.org/10.2166/h2oj.2024.099
Muhammad, F., Ezra, A. G., Nayaya, A. J., Sabo, I. B., and Ahmad, A. (2025). Concentrations and Seasonal Variations of Physicochemical Parameters in Gubi Reservoir, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 29(3), 761–766. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v29i3.10
Muhammad, M., and Ibrahim, M. A. (2011). Tomato: Potentials for alternative source of economic empowerment in Kano State. Journal of Agricultural Research and Development 10(2)
Mukaribu, M., & Mu’azu, A. (2023). Assessment of Seasonal Variations in The Physico-Chemical Parameters of Bakolori Dam, Zamfara State, Nigeria. International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability, 9(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.57233/ijsgs.v9i1.409
Nasir, I., Kankara, U. M., Yahaya, M. A., Sadauki, M. A., & Auta, T. (2024). Physicochemical Parameters of Sabke Reservoir, Katsina State, Nigeria. Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA, 2(4), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2024-0204-05
Odewade, L. O., Adeniyi, I. F., & Aduwo, A. I. (2021). Spatial and seasonal variations in the physicochemical parameters of water quality of a tropical reservoir, Nigeria. Limnology and Freshwater Biology, (4), 1160–1167. https://doi.org/10.31951/2658-3518-2021-A-4-1160
Ogungbile, P., Morakinyo, O., Adeyinka, O. A., & Sridhar, M. K. C. (2019). Analyses of Heavy Metal Pollution in a Tidal Polluted Creek in Lagos, Nigeria. International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 17(3), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.9734/IRJPAC/2018/46146
Okon, I., Anweting, D. l., & Nwokem, N. (2022). A Study on Heavy Metals Pollution Levels in Water and Sediment of River Kubani Dam, Zaria, Nigeria. 23. 107 - 116.
Olabamiji, A. O., Adeniyi, A., Alausa, S., Oloruntola, R. F., Ilori, A., & Amao, J. (2025). Heavy metal concentrations in Ikere Gorge Dam water, Iseyin, Southwestern Nigeria. Discover Water. 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00202-4
Olowojuni, O. A., Amulejoye, F. D., Ikuesan, B. B., Maulu, S., & Bwalya, H., O. J. (2025) Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 40 (1). 2516505. ISSN 2156-6941. https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2025.2516505
Piccolroaz, S., Zhu, S., Ladwig, R., Carrea, L., Oliver, S., Piotrowski, A. P., Ptak, M., Shinohara, R., Sojka, M., Woolway, R. I., & Zhu, D. Z. (2024). Lake Water Temperature Modeling in an Era of Climate Change: Data Sources, Models, and Future Prospects. Reviews of Geophysics, 62(1), e2023RG000816. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023RG000816
Sadauki, M. A., Ochokwu, J., & Hadiza, Y. B. (2022). Seasonal Variation in The Physicochemical Parameters of Daberam Reservoir Dutsi, Katsina State, Nigeria. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 6(5), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2022-0605-1004
Sani, S., Abdulkadir, A., Abubakar, B., Muazu, S., Wakili Habib, D., Sani, M., & Hamza, H. (2025). Assessment of Water Quality for Irrigation in Dutsin-Ma Dam, Katsina State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research, 20(1), 191–210. https://doi.org/10.62154/ajasfr.2025.020.01022
Shangguan, Q., DeGrandpre, M. D., Hall, R. O., & Payn, R. A. (2025). Freshwater carbonate buffering revisited. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 10(5), 619–635. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70047
Shanono, N.J. & Nasidi, N.M. (2026) Water availability, consumption and potential for optimum utilization in Kano State, Nigeria. Environmental Research and Technology, 9(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1531176
Siddique, M. A. M., Naher, S., Islam, N., Hossen, Md. Y., Tabassum, S., Uddin, A., Das, K., & Rahman, M. S. (2025). Potential Ecological Risk and Characterization of Floating Microplastics in the Surface Water of a Highly Urbanized Large River in Southeast Asia. Scientifica, 2025(1), 3043345. https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/3043345
Tomlinson, D.L., Wilson, J.G., Harris, C.R. & Jeffrey, D.W. (1980) Problems in the Assessment of Heavy-Metal Levels in Estuaries and the Formation of a Pollution Index. Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen, 33, 566-575. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02414780
Umma, M., Ibrahim, M., Tasi’u, Y.R., Binta, S.B., Jamila, M.H. & Hassan, K.Y. (2014) Effects of Anthropogenic factors on the Phytoplankton distribution of Watari Dam, Kano State. Standard Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol 2(8);136-141, December Special Issue 2014 (ISSN: 2311-2751) http://www.standresjournals.org/journals/SRJAS
Yusuf, M. S. (2025). Tree Species Composition and Diversity in Dansoshiya Forest Reserve, Kano State, Nigeria. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 9(4), 116–122. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0904-3280
Zhou, Q., Yang, N., Li, Y., Ren, B., Ding, X., Bian, H., & Yao, X. (2020). Total concentrations and sources of heavy metal pollution in global river and lake water bodies from 1972 to 2017. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, e00925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00925
