Physicochemical Analysis of Borehole Water in Kano Metropolis, North West Nigeria

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health concern across Nigerian urban centres, particularly in rapidly growing cities like Kano. This study investigates the physicochemical properties of borehole water samples collected from ten selected communities within the Kano metropolis, North West Nigeria. Parameters analysed include pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total hardness, nitrate, sulphate, chloride, iron, and dissolved oxygen, using standard American Public Health Association methods. Samples are collected during both dry and wet seasons to capture seasonal variability in water quality. Preliminary field observations suggest widespread reliance on unregulated borehole systems in peri-urban neighbourhoods where public water supply infrastructure has deteriorated. The study compares measured values against World Health Organization guidelines and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. Results are expected to reveal significant deviations in pH and heavy metal concentrations linked to geological substrate composition and anthropogenic contamination from nearby agricultural activities. Findings are presented using descriptive statistics including mean, range, and standard deviation across sampling points. This research aims to generate baseline data that can guide remediation strategies, inform government water quality monitoring programmes, and support advocacy for improved borehole regulation in the North West geopolitical zone. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on groundwater safety in semi-arid Nigerian environments. Keywords: borehole water, physicochemical analysis, Kano, water quality, groundwater contamination