Assessment of the PhysicochemicalProperties of Water in Tin Mining Ponds on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria: Prospect for Municipal Clean Water Supply

The global problem in water resources management is finding new and reliable sources of water. The utility of water is limited by its quality and accessibility,which makes it suitable or unsuitable for a variety of uses. Assessment of water quality is therefore an important aspect of water resource evaluation. Various analytical procedures were used to analyze the appearance, taste, E-productivity, temperature, turbidity, color, odor, pH, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na) chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), nitrate (NO2), microbial, cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and arsenic (Ar) contents, which were all measured during the dry season. The results were compared with water quality standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Based on these findings, the appearance, color, taste, odor, electrical conductivity, turbidity, iron (Fe), lead (Pb), arsenic (Ar), total coliform and E. coli concentrations are above the WHO and NESREA limits. The utilization of mining ponds for a sustainable water supply offers benefits, including increased water security, minimized environmental impact and reduced water costs. It is recommended that mining ponds undergo proper treatment and further purification before being utilized for domestic purposes.