Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals Concentration Level of Drinking Water in Gazer Town and Selected Kebele, South Ari District, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Drinking water quality is fundamental to human physiology and health. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of drinking water in Gazer Town and selected kebele, in south Ari district, South Omo zone, Southern Ethiopia. A total of four drinking water samples were collected from densely populated urban areas of the Gazer Town and one rural Kebele. All the collected samples were analyzed for eight heavy metals, (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) using standard procedures. The results were compared with other national and international standards. Among the analyzed samples, drinking water samples collected from selected kebele (Aynalem kebele), show mean concentrations heavy metals in (μg/L), (Mn (973 ± 10), Cu (1068 ± 1.5), Cr (2785 ± 25), Fe (4302 ± 15), Cd (1218 ± 18), Pb (720 ± 12), Co (1478 ± 3), and Zn (1790 ± 5)), and the results revel except, Co and Zn metals, all show concentrations higher than the national and international standards (such as USEPA (2008), WHO (2011), and New Zealand) recommended values. Among the eight heavy metals analyzed from drinking waters in Gazer Town, Cd and Cr were below the method detection than that of all sampling area. However, the concentration of Mn, Pb, Co, Cu, Fe, and Zn were ranged from mean values of 9 μg/L, 17.6 μg/L, 7.6 μg/L, 12 μg/L, 765 μg/L, and 494 μg/L, respectively. Except Pb metals, the analyzed metals in waters were below the currently recommended guidelines for drinking. Therefore, the government should adopt some treatment technologies such as sedimentation and aeration to minimize the concentration of zinc for safe drinking the water to the community of Gazer Town.

Safety of Tap Water in Terms of Changes in Physical, Chemical, and Biological Stability

“…Due to the influence of heavy metal ions on human metabolism, the analysis of their content is an important part of public health research [29,30]. International water quality regulations lower the maximum allowable levels of metals that are potentially toxic to humans.…”

Recent Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Cd2+ Detection

“…It leads to a color alternation of the solution and decreased stability of AuNPs ( Figure 8 c) [ 10 ]. The detection limit is 1.12 g/L, less than the USEPA’s permitted level for drinking water (5 μg/L) [ 68 ]. Compared to the previously mentioned method using a smartphone, this colorimetric system can be analyzed and captured by a smartphone within 10 min, and it can also achieve quantitative and in-situ monitoring of Cd 2+ ( Table 2 ).…”

Electrochemical Detection of Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ with Sensors Based on Carbonaceous Nanomaterials and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

“…In recent years, environmental heavy metal (HM) pollution has increased considerably due to major industrialization in several countries of the world [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. High concentrations of heavy metals can sometimes be found in water, soil, or air, a situation that can lead to serious health problems for vegetation and wildlife, as well as humans [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”