Comparative Studies of Total Hardness Levels of Water Samples from Sheka Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government, Kano State.

Water hardness is a crucial parameter for assessing water quality, as it affects both domestic and industrial applications. This study compares the total hardness levels of water samples collected from Sheka Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government, Kano State. A total of 23 water samples from different sources, including shallow wells, boreholes, and hand-formed wells, were analyzed and compared against the WHO standard maximum permissible limit of 500 ppm.
The results indicate that water hardness varies significantly across different water sources. Among the shallow wells, S.D.T. recorded the highest hardness level of 464 ppm, while L.A.D. had the lowest at 216.7 ppm. Borehole samples exhibited a broad range of hardness levels, with B.B.L. exceeding the WHO limit at 530.4 ppm, while S.B.M. remained within the permissible range at 272.2 ppm. Hand-formed wells demonstrated substantial variability, with S.G.S.S. showing the highest hardness at 844.7 ppm, significantly exceeding the WHO standard, whereas R.H. and K.K. had the lowest at 200.1 ppm, aligning with the control sample from Challawa.
The study highlights that several water sources in Sheka Quarters have hardness levels exceeding the WHO guideline, indicating a potential need for water treatment measures. The high hardness levels could be attributed to geological factors, leaching of minerals, and anthropogenic activities in the area. Further research is recommended to identify specific sources of water hardness and explore possible treatment methods to improve water quality for residents.
Keywords: Water hardness, Sheka Quarters, Shallow wells, Boreholes, Hand-formed wells, WHO standard, Water quality