Determination of Pesticide Residue in Dug Well and Borehole in Yawa Drinking Water Adamawa State, Nigeria

This research work is aimed at determination of pesticide residue in dug well and borehole in Yawa drinking water. In this work, water samples collected from Yawa Mubi South Adamawa State were analyzed for physicochemical parameters. After sample collection and extraction, some heavy metal concentrations (Cadmium, Zinc, Iron, Copper) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) in the water samples and their levels compared with WHO/FAO maximum levels. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrophotometer was used to determine the levels of pesticide residues in the water samples. The temperature of water samples was between 24.0 (Kofan Jauro well 25.00c) and (Yawa community borehole). All water samples were alkaline with pH ranging from 5.07 (Yawabetenga borehole) to 5.46 (Yawa primary well). Yawa primary well showed the highest turbidity (155.3 ± 1.53 NTU), the least turbidity was (1.33 ± 1.55 NTU) observed in Yawa community borehole. The maximum level of TDS was131 ± 1mg/l which was detected in KofanJauro well. The least concentration (12.0 ± 1.01mg/l) of TDS was detected in Yawa primary well which also showed the highest electrical conductivity (226 ± 1A). Yawabetenga borehole showed the least EC (135 ± 1A). Cadmium values ranges from 2.79-3.59 mg/L, cadmium was not detected in KJW and YBB. All the values analyzed for cadmium were found to be above the allowable limit set by EPA, 2018. All the values analyzed for Zn are extremely above the standard set by EPA, 2018. The highest concentration of aldrin was detected in Yawa borehole and the lowest concentration was detected in KofanJauro well. The maximum concentration of pesticide Endosulfan (4.46266 mg/L,) was detected in Yawa Primary well. The least of all detected pesticides is methoxychlor (0.001852 mg/L) in Yawa borehole near River. Heptachlor however was not detected completely in water sample from Yawa borehole near river, Yawa Betenga Borehole and Yawa borehole. P, p’ – DDE was not detected in Yawa borehole near river. Water samples from Yawa primary well showed elevated concentration of pesticides (>0.1mg/L) relative to water samples from other wells and boreholes from Yawa Mubi South.