Physicochemical Characterisation of Groundwater Sources Used for Pharmaceutical Purposes in Maiduguri, Borno State

Access to water meeting pharmaceutical grade specifications is critical for both drug manufacturing and hospital compounding activities. In conflict-affected areas such as Maiduguri, Borno State in North East Nigeria, the reliability of water supply and quality has been severely compromised. This study characterised the physicochemical properties of groundwater samples from ten boreholes and wells serving pharmaceutical-related facilities in Maiduguri. Parameters evaluated included pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, chloride content, total hardness, alkalinity, turbidity, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations. Analysis followed standard methods outlined in the United States Pharmacopoeia and the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. All ten sources exceeded pharmacopoeial limits for total dissolved solids, and eight showed elevated chloride concentrations. Turbidity values exceeded acceptable limits in six sources during the rainy season. pH readings ranged from 5.9 to 8.4, with three sources falling outside the recommended range of 6.5 to 8.5. These results indicate that untreated groundwater from the studied sources is unsuitable for pharmaceutical use without extensive purification. The study recommends installation of reverse osmosis purification units at all pharmaceutical facilities in Maiduguri and routine monitoring of water quality parameters. Keywords: groundwater quality, physicochemical characterisation, Maiduguri, pharmaceutical water, boreholes.