An Assessment of the Spring Water Quality in the Share Region of Southern Nigeria Using the Water Quality Index

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The majority of the springs examined in the region are either contact, gravitational, or fracture kinds. Because this is a contact zone, these rocks are considered to be Cretaceous. We tested the spring water's cleanliness by collecting samples of it. In various locations around the region, ten artesian springs were located. Phosphorus, temperature, total dissolved solids, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and total hardness were some of the physicochemical characteristics examined in the water samples that were taken. After that, the spring water's purity was verified using the water quality index technique. Tests on water samples taken from 10 different springs came out negative. We examined water quality using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test for significant differences; however, no such differences were found. Due to the high quality of all examined samples, the water seems to be safe for human consumption. The only catch is that the spring has to be L7 and L9 has to be treated before human consumption could be considered. clinical trial not applicable Artesian Physicochemical parameters Water Quality Index Statistical analysis Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Introduction The value of water, a fundamental utility, is second only to that of air. There is a lot of water in the air, the lithosphere (rock units), and the biosphere (living things) (Aderogba, 2005 , Mayer's, 2005). It represents an irreplaceable component of every community's water supply, wastewater treatment, laundry, fishing, remediation, and manufacturing needs. The two most common forms of water are surface water, found in bodies of water like lakes and streams, and groundwater, found in places like wells and boreholes. It is possible to direct spring water to the top of the earth, the bottom of rivers and streams, or even the ocean. You may drink from and water your plants from the same spring. In popular imagination, spring water had a sacred character and was thought to be of the highest quality. The global market for bottled spring water has grown substantially in recent years (King 2008 ). While several studies in the Share region have looked into the subsurface environment for springs using geophysical methods, the quality of the contained water may be a big problem for water consumption, especially for small applications, regardless of how prolific the spring zone is. Magnetic examination of springs and hydrochemical analyses are both carried out in different parts of the globe. Therefore, it is important to evaluate Share Artesian springs so that we may learn more about the mechanisms that regulate the spring water's structural and hydro chemical compositions and, ultimately, its usefulness. The purpose of this research is to assess the potential of Share spring as a drinking water source and to determine its quality and features using different approaches. clinical trial not applicable. Study Area and Sampling site The town of Share in the Kwara state LGA (Ifelodun) is the site of the research. We looked at a region some 30 km north of Ilorin. This region is located between the coordinates 080 48' and 080 50' N, and 040 56' and 040 59' E. On foot, one may reach the springs by navigating through forests, rivers, and fields. The Fig. 1.1 . Share, in the Nigerian state of Kwara, is part of the Schist belt, a Precambrian basement complex topography in the country's southwestern region. According to Oyawoye ( 1970 ), Rahaman ( 1976 ), and Annor (1995), the basement complex is composed of a mix of migmatized rocks and quartzite with 600 ± 150 ma of granite to diorite rock intruded throughout. Within the West Africa Craton is the Nigerian basement complex, which includes the southwestern basement (Rahaman, 1976 ). The basement rocks of Share are from the Precambrian period and are partially covered by sediments from the Cretaceous to the Recent Period. These rocks are located in the Bida Basin, an intra-cratonic basin in central west Nigeria. The basin is approximately 3.5 km thick and has a sedimentary infill that runs along a 350 km long and 75–150 km wide fault line that is roughly orthogonal to the Benue trough. The basement rocks of Share are located north of the Sokoto basin's basal continental beds. The research area's geographical position and height were noted using a hand-held GPS device. The ten springs that were chosen were assigned codes ranging from L1 to L10, as shown in Table 1 . Table 1 Location of the studied Artesian Springs in share area Spring No. Longitude (E 0 ) Latitude (N 0 ) L1 E4 0 56 1 962 N8 0 49 1 330 L2 E4 0 56 1 932 N8 0 49 1 344 L3 E4 0 56 1 911 N8 0 49 1 365 L4 E4 0 58 1 331 N8 0 49 1 382 L5 E4 0 58 1 294 N8 0 49 1 387 L6 E4 0 58 1 284 N8 0 49 1 362 L7 E4 0 58 1 115 N8 0 48 1 710 L8 E4 0 57 1 423 N8 0 47 1 533 L9 E4 0 58 1 471 N8 0 49.286 L10 E4 0 56 1 878 N8 0 49 1 464 Materials and Method In December of 2021, during the dry season, water samples were taken from 10 different persistent springs spread out over ten different sites. The 1-liter plastic bottles used to collect the water samples were washed and rinsed with distilled water to ensure their cleanliness. The Central Research and Diagnostic Laboratory used industry-standard procedures to examine all of the water samples. Following the guidelines laid down by APHA (2012) and Tripathi and Govil (2001), physicochemical analysis was conducted. The pH, temperature, and total dissolved solid readings were taken using a hand-held pH-meter and a TDS meter (TDS-3, HM digital). Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), phenolphthalein indicator, and methyl orange indicator were among the chemicals used to evaluate alkalinity. The chloride concentration was determined by titrating silver nitrate (AgNO3) and potassium chromate (K2CrO4), whereas the calcium concentration was determined by titrating EDTA solution, sodium hydroxide, and murexide. Total hardness was also measured using EDTA, ammonia buffer, and Eriochrome Black -T indicator. To measure potassium and sodium, flame photometry was used. Water Quality Index (WQI) Howerton (1965) came up with the idea of a water quality index. In the future, Brown (1970) will present a revised WQI that is comparable to Horton's index. Our team has developed a weighted arithmetic water quality index system to assess the potability of spring water for human use. Adimalla and Venkatayogi ( 2018 ), Aly et al. ( 2015 ), Chowdhury etal. ( 2012 ), Balan et al. ( 2012 ), Rao et al. ( 2010 ), Ramakrishnalah et al. (2009), and Brown et al. (1972) are only a few of the many scientific publications that make extensive use of this approach to evaluate water quality. The following formula was used to calculate WQI: WQI =∑ 𝑸𝒊𝑾𝒊/ ∑𝑾𝒊, (1) Wi stands for unit weight and Qi for quality rating scale. The formula below is used to determine the (Qi) for each parameter: Qi = (Vi-Vo / Si-Vo) x100 (2) The above equation states that the estimated value of the ith parameter in the water that was tested in the lab is Vi, where Vo is the ideal value of pure water (with the exception of pH = 7.0 and DO = 14.6 mg/l), and Si is the standard value of the function. To get the relative weight (Wi) and unit weight (wi) of each parameter, we use the following equation: Wi = wi /∑ 𝒘𝒊 𝒏 𝒊=𝟏 (3) The relative relevance of physico-chemical characteristics in total water quality for drinking is used to allocate weight units to them. The value of the allocated unit might be anything from one to five. The formulas for determining relative weight and unit weight are provided. Table 2 Each Parameters Relative Importance Physio-chemical Parameters World Health Organization ( 2011 ) British Institute of Science(2012) Unit Weight (wi) Relative Weight (Wi = wi/ Σwi) pH 6.50–8.60 6.50–8.50 3.00 0.12 TDS 490 490 5.00 0.2 Total Alkalinity 190 200–700 4.00 0.16 Potassium 12.00 12.00 2.00 0.08 Sodium 150 150 2.00 0.08 Chloride 240 250 4.00 0.16 Calcium 74 1500 3.00 0.12 Magnesium 49 99 3.00 0.12 Total Hardness 99 550 3.00 0.12 Σwi = 29.00 Σ Wi = 1.16 (BIS 2012) The degree of purity of the spring water and its acceptability for human consumption were determined by classifying the acquired WQI values of all parameters into five groups according to range values (Table 3 ). Table 3 WQI categorization interval, the degree of purity of the spring water and its acceptability for human consumption Range Water Class 300 Water inappropriate for intake purpose RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The physicochemical characteristics that are investigated include total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, alkalinity, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), potassium, chloride, sodium, and total hardness. The current climatic and meteorological conditions are subjective factors that determine the temperature of spring water. A mean temperature of 25.60 degrees Celsius was reported for the spring water. The pH levels at each of the spring locations were determined to be within the acceptable range. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chlorides are examples of cations, whereas chlorides and nitrates are examples of "anion" molecules that make up dissolved solids. Spring L7 and L9 had the highest recorded levels of TDS, at 132 mg/L and 320 mg/L, respectively. Nonetheless, according to BIS ( 2012 ) and WHO (2011), all of the values were within the acceptable range. The presence of dissolved minerals, such hydroxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate, causes water to be alkaline. None of the spring water exceeded the legal limits for total alkalinity. Spring L7 and L9 had the highest potassium levels, beyond the legal limit, with concentrations of 13.4 and 15.7 milligrams per liter, respectively, according to the stated limits set by the World Health Organization ( 2011 ) and the Bureau of Industrial Safety (2012). Chemical weathering of carbonate host rock, agricultural activities within the catchment region, and the disposal of garbage and excrete surrounding the spring might be possible causes of the greater potassium content at spring sites L7 and L9. Nevertheless, every single spring water sample had a potassium level that is well within the acceptable range. In addition, all of the spring water samples showed a trace amount of sodium, which is below the legal limit of 200 mg/L. Spring L7 and L9 have the highest concentrations of sodium and chloride, the primary components of salt water. Spring L7 and L9 may have a salty flavor due to the high levels of chloride in the water. Because of its salty nature, the spring draws animals from the surrounding forest and settlements. Spring L7 and L9 had greater chloride concentrations than the others, although these readings are still well within the safe range allowed by the World Health Organization ( 2011 ) and the Bureau of Industrial Safety (2012). Sites L2 and L8, which are springs located in areas rich in carbonate rocks, have elevated magnesium and calcium concentrations. The reaction between water and the carbonate rock in the area produces these ions. Magnesium and calcium concentrations vary substantially with the seasons. Table 2 shows that the maximum magnesium content observed was 57.24 mg/l at spring L3, which is higher than the allowable limit set by the World Health Organization in 2011. All other spring water samples, however, had magnesium levels that were within the allowed range for both seasons. Calcium and magnesium values in every water sample were well within the safe range. Because of the high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions, spring water is hard. Although L7 and L9 had quite high overall hardness values, not all springs had. The hardness values of the spring water, however, were all within the permitted range (BIS, 2012 ). Anthropogenic processes and weathering of the host carbonate rock may explain the elevated overall hardness value. Except for L3 and L9, which have a salty taste and are hence rarely utilized by the locals, all of the spring water samples had good and drinkable water characteristics (Table 3 ). Using a weighted arithmetic WQI approach, we were able to determine the spring water's purity level and determine if it was safe to drink. Table 4 shows the Water Quality Index (WQI) values for all of the spring water samples. The spring value is entirely below 50, which is considered to be in the "excellent" category for drinking water. Table 4 Water Quality Index (WQI) values for all of the spring water samples. Spring Code WQI L1 23.60 L2 13.38 L3 27.50 L4 23.39 L5 14.39 L6 33.46 L7 28.57 L8 21.64 L9 24.8 L10 6.49 t Stat -0.440 P value one-tail 0.3377 t Critical one-tail 1.941 T Critical one-left tail -1.946 We used a 0.05 significance level and a 95% confidence level to conduct the paired t-test analysis. All of these factors were thought to be associated with the springs' WQI fluctuation and change. Results from the paired t-test computation reveal a 'p' value (p = 0.337) higher than the 0.05 threshold for statistical significance. In a similar vein, the critical value is higher than the permissible range of recorded t statistics values (-0.440). That the variation in WQI is negligible was shown by this. There was no discernible variance in the water quality throughout the springs, and the majority of them were found to be of a drinkable and high standard. But before they can be used around the home, springL7 and L9 need further care. CONCLUSION The surrounding country rock also has an effect on the quality of the spring water (Dwivedi, 2017 ; Michalik, 2007). The research area's spring sites are all part of the same rock formation: a cretaceous sediment group in the north and a migmatite intrusion in the south. Carbonate host rock may explain why spring water (spring-L7 and spring-9) has Iron present. The water samples taken from springs L2 and 6 had lower pH values, whereas the water from spring L7 had a greater magnesium content. Potassium levels in spring-L9 were also higher than those recommended by the World Health organization ( 2011 ) and the British Institutes of Science (2012). This could be because of the weathering of the host rock or the fact that there is a lot of farming around the spring site, which deposits salt, dirt, human excrete and fertilizer residue. The water quality index (WQI) of every spring was determined to be both drinkable and very high. Share springs at site 3 are becoming less perennial in the current circumstances. The water quality is also being greatly impacted by the human activities occurring within the catchment area of springs. Since many water-borne illnesses are more common during the rainy season, it is very important to examine the springs' water quality and discharge at regular intervals throughout this time. During the dry season, weathering activity is at its peak, dissolving minerals and increasing their concentration in water. According to research by Patil et al. ( 2012 ), water may become poisonous when it has high levels of alkalinity, pH, and hardness. Additional research on the effluent and water quality monitoring of Share area springs is needed in the future. In order to revitalize the Share springs, it is necessary to raise awareness and strengthen the abilities of local community people. Declarations M, O Arowolo wrote the main manuscript, and prepared the whole tables and figures, S.O, and J.A, did final review of the manuscript. All authors agreed to the manuscript. Consent to Publish declaration: not applicable The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work. No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. No funding was received for conducting this study. No funds, grants, or other support was received. All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article Ethics and Consent to Participate declarations: not applicable References Aderogba, KA (2005) Grand Water Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Abeokuta – Ewekoro – Ifo – Ota - Agbara Axis in Ogun State, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ., 1-2(2): 51–68. Adimalla N., Venkatayogi S. 2018. Geochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater suitability for domestic and agricultural utility in semi-arid region of Basara, Telangana state, South India. Applied Water Science, 8(44). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201- 018-0682-1. Aly A.A, Al-Omran A.M, Alharby M.M. 2015. The water quality index and hydrochemical characterization of groundwater resources in Hafar Albatin, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 8(6):4177–4190. https://doi. org/10.1007/s12517-014-1463-2 Balan, I.N., Shivakumar, M. and Kumar, P.D.M., 2012. An assessment of ground water quality using water quality index in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Chronicles of Young Scientists, 3(2), 146-150. BIS 2012. Indian standard specification for drinking water (IS 10500: 2012). Brown, R.M, McClelland, N.I, Deininger, R.A. and Tozer, R.G., (1970) Water quality index-do we dare ?, Water Sewage Works, 117(10), 339-343. 1970 Chowdhury, R.M., Muntasir, S.Y. and Hossain, M.M. 2012. Water quality index of water bodies along Faridpur-Barisal road in Bangladesh. Global Engineers and Technology Review, 2(3). 1-8. Dwivedi, A.K. 2017. Research in water pollution- A Review. International Research Journal of Natural and Applied Science, 4, 2349-4077, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12094.08002 Horton, R.K., (1965). An index number system for rating water quality. Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation, 37(3), 300-305. King M (2008) Bottled Water-Globa IndustryGuide-New Research Report on Companies and Markets. 4. Machalik, A. 2008. The use of Chemical and Cluster Analysis for Studying Spring Water Quality in Swietokrzyski National Park. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 17(3), 357- 362. Mayers, LW (2005) Urban Water Supply: Handbook. New York: Culinary and Hospitality Industry Publication Services, pp. 102-113. Oyawoye MO (1970) the basement complex of Nigeria. In: Dessauvagie TFJ, Whiteman AJ (eds) African geology. Ibadan University Press, pp 66–102 Patil, P.N., Sawant, D.V. and Deshmukh, R.N. 2012. Physico-chemical parameters for testing of water – A review. International Journal of Environmental Science, 3(3), 1194-1207. ISSN 0976 – 4402 Rahaman M. A (1976) .Review of the Basement Geology of Southwestern Nigeria. In: Geology of Nigeria, edited by C.A. Kogbe, Elizabethan Publ. Co., Lagos. pp. 41- 58. Ramakrishnaiah, C.R., Sadashivaiah C. and Ranganna, G. 2009. Assessment of water quality index for the groundwater in Tumkur Taluk, Karnataka state, India. Journal of Chemistry, 6(2):523–530. Rao, C.S., Rao, B.S., Hariharan, A.V.L.N.S.H. and Bharathi, N.M. 2010. Determination of water quality index of some areas in Guntur district Andhra Pradesh, International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical technology, 1(1), 79- 86. Vilane, B.R. Thulane and Dalmini, J. 2016. An Assessment of the Mhlambanyoni Spring Water Quality at Sigombeni, Swaziland. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 2(5), 40-45. SSN: 2381-6821 (Print); ISSN: 2381-6848 (Online) World Health Organization (2011). Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, WHO Press, Geneva, Switzerland, 4th edition, 518 p. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7445226","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":515929545,"identity":"16fb66e7-7806-43a1-85e7-15d9f81f5e82","order_by":0,"name":"Martins Olatoye AROWOLO","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYNCCAgYGfgSPsYEILQYMDJINcKXEajE4QJxSoHtmHz4m8cHAJtr4dvPzx7x7GOQNbjc3MPz4g1uLxLm0NMkZBmm52+4cM2zmecZguOHOwQbGHh481pzhMbvNY3A4d9uNBKCWAwwJBjcSG5gZJHDrkIdp2Twj/SOSFgPcWgxgWjZI5CDbkoBbi+EZtvSfIL/MuJFTOHPOAQnDmUAtB3sO4NYid4b5sMGHCpvc/hnpGz68OWAjz3cj/eEDfCGGDiDexmPHKBgFo2AUjAJiAAAK31OFtJZ0EQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Kwara State University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Martins","middleName":"Olatoye","lastName":"AROWOLO","suffix":""},{"id":515929546,"identity":"1fffd6c5-feaf-4761-8c42-5d43e952cd00","order_by":1,"name":"Jimoh AJADI","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kwara State University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jimoh","middleName":"","lastName":"AJADI","suffix":""},{"id":515929547,"identity":"9628570b-9fd5-4b79-8cf5-185d90c04b90","order_by":2,"name":"Saminu OLATUNJI","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ilorin","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Saminu","middleName":"","lastName":"OLATUNJI","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-24 09:23:06","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7445226/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7445226/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":91687226,"identity":"e66b7c47-403a-47d4-ae90-878635fc464c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 07:56:49","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":82823,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFigure 1.1 Geologic Map of Kwara State showing study area (NGSA 2006)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7445226/v1/e678616cdfb1d9e79b5617c5.png"},{"id":91687230,"identity":"3de12354-5427-4ea4-bd6e-dd97b7596760","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 07:56:49","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":141138,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFigure 1.2 Deduced Geologic map of the area, from magnetic field responses, showing the artesian springs Locations\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7445226/v1/0a46a6f9a47b8d94dc78183a.png"},{"id":104405104,"identity":"88202e73-ce82-4beb-80b0-2d18f2a3902c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-11 12:21:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":955883,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7445226/v1/46704bd7-2203-4b92-8baa-26c828eac5b8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eAn Assessment of the Spring Water Quality in the Share Region of Southern Nigeria Using the Water Quality Index\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe value of water, a fundamental utility, is second only to that of air. There is a lot of water in the air, the lithosphere (rock units), and the biosphere (living things) (Aderogba, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e, Mayer's, 2005). It represents an irreplaceable component of every community's water supply, wastewater treatment, laundry, fishing, remediation, and manufacturing needs. The two most common forms of water are surface water, found in bodies of water like lakes and streams, and groundwater, found in places like wells and boreholes. It is possible to direct spring water to the top of the earth, the bottom of rivers and streams, or even the ocean. You may drink from and water your plants from the same spring. In popular imagination, spring water had a sacred character and was thought to be of the highest quality. The global market for bottled spring water has grown substantially in recent years (King \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). While several studies in the Share region have looked into the subsurface environment for springs using geophysical methods, the quality of the contained water may be a big problem for water consumption, especially for small applications, regardless of how prolific the spring zone is. Magnetic examination of springs and hydrochemical analyses are both carried out in different parts of the globe. Therefore, it is important to evaluate Share Artesian springs so that we may learn more about the mechanisms that regulate the spring water's structural and hydro chemical compositions and, ultimately, its usefulness. The purpose of this research is to assess the potential of Share spring as a drinking water source and to determine its quality and features using different approaches. clinical trial not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Area and Sampling site\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe town of Share in the Kwara state LGA (Ifelodun) is the site of the research. We looked at a region some 30 km north of Ilorin. This region is located between the coordinates 080 48' and 080 50' N, and 040 56' and 040 59' E. On foot, one may reach the springs by navigating through forests, rivers, and fields. The Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1.1\u003c/span\u003e. Share, in the Nigerian state of Kwara, is part of the Schist belt, a Precambrian basement complex topography in the country's southwestern region. According to Oyawoye (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1970\u003c/span\u003e), Rahaman (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1976\u003c/span\u003e), and Annor (1995), the basement complex is composed of a mix of migmatized rocks and quartzite with 600\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;150 ma of granite to diorite rock intruded throughout. Within the West Africa Craton is the Nigerian basement complex, which includes the southwestern basement (Rahaman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1976\u003c/span\u003e). The basement rocks of Share are from the Precambrian period and are partially covered by sediments from the Cretaceous to the Recent Period. These rocks are located in the Bida Basin, an intra-cratonic basin in central west Nigeria. The basin is approximately 3.5 km thick and has a sedimentary infill that runs along a 350 km long and 75\u0026ndash;150 km wide fault line that is roughly orthogonal to the Benue trough. The basement rocks of Share are located north of the Sokoto basin's basal continental beds. The research area's geographical position and height were noted using a hand-held GPS device. The ten springs that were chosen were assigned codes ranging from L1 to L10, as shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLocation of the studied Artesian Springs in share area\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpring No.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLongitude (E\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLatitude (N\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e56\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e962\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e330\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e56\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e932\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e344\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e56\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e911\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e365\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e58\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e331\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e382\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e58\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e294\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e387\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e58\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e284\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e362\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e58\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e115\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e48\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e710\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e57\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e423\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e47\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e533\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e58\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e471\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49.286\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eE4\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e56\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e878\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN8\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e49\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e464\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Method","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn December of 2021, during the dry season, water samples were taken from 10 different persistent springs spread out over ten different sites. The 1-liter plastic bottles used to collect the water samples were washed and rinsed with distilled water to ensure their cleanliness. The Central Research and Diagnostic Laboratory used industry-standard procedures to examine all of the water samples. Following the guidelines laid down by APHA (2012) and Tripathi and Govil (2001), physicochemical analysis was conducted. The pH, temperature, and total dissolved solid readings were taken using a hand-held pH-meter and a TDS meter (TDS-3, HM digital). Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), phenolphthalein indicator, and methyl orange indicator were among the chemicals used to evaluate alkalinity. The chloride concentration was determined by titrating silver nitrate (AgNO3) and potassium chromate (K2CrO4), whereas the calcium concentration was determined by titrating EDTA solution, sodium hydroxide, and murexide. Total hardness was also measured using EDTA, ammonia buffer, and Eriochrome Black -T indicator. To measure potassium and sodium, flame photometry was used.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWater Quality Index (WQI)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowerton (1965) came up with the idea of a water quality index. In the future, Brown (1970) will present a revised WQI that is comparable to Horton's index. Our team has developed a weighted arithmetic water quality index system to assess the potability of spring water for human use. Adimalla and Venkatayogi (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), Aly et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), Chowdhury etal. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), Balan et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), Rao et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e), Ramakrishnalah et al. (2009), and Brown et al. (1972) are only a few of the many scientific publications that make extensive use of this approach to evaluate water quality. The following formula was used to calculate WQI:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWQI =∑ 𝑸𝒊𝑾𝒊/ ∑𝑾𝒊, (1)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWi stands for unit weight and Qi for quality rating scale. The formula below is used to determine the (Qi) for each parameter:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQi = (Vi-Vo / Si-Vo) x100 (2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe above equation states that the estimated value of the ith parameter in the water that was tested in the lab is Vi, where Vo is the ideal value of pure water (with the exception of pH\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;7.0 and DO\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;14.6 mg/l), and Si is the standard value of the function. To get the relative weight (Wi) and unit weight (wi) of each parameter, we use the following equation:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;wi /\u0026sum; \u0026#119960;\u0026#119946; \u0026#119951; \u0026#119946;=\u0026#120783; (3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe relative relevance of physico-chemical characteristics in total water quality for drinking is used to allocate weight units to them. The value of the allocated unit might be anything from one to five. The formulas for determining relative weight and unit weight are provided.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach Parameters Relative Importance\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysio-chemical\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParameters\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorld Health Organization (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBritish Institute of Science(2012)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnit Weight (wi)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRelative Weight\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Wi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;wi/ Σwi)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003epH\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.50\u0026ndash;8.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.50\u0026ndash;8.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTDS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e490\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e490\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal Alkalinity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e190\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e200\u0026ndash;700\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.16\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePotassium\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.08\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSodium\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e150\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e150\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.08\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChloride\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e240\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e250\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.16\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCalcium\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e74\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1500\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMagnesium\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e49\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e99\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal Hardness\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e99\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e550\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.00\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eΣwi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;29.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eΣ Wi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e(BIS 2012)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe degree of purity of the spring water and its acceptability for human consumption were determined by classifying the acquired WQI values of all parameters into five groups according to range values (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWQI categorization interval, the degree of purity of the spring water and its acceptability for human consumption\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRange\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater Class\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrilliant Water\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u0026ndash;100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDecent Water\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e100\u0026ndash;200\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDeprived Water\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e200\u0026ndash;300\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eActual Deprived Water\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;300\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWater inappropriate for intake purpose\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS AND DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe physicochemical characteristics that are investigated include total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, alkalinity, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), potassium, chloride, sodium, and total hardness. The current climatic and meteorological conditions are subjective factors that determine the temperature of spring water. A mean temperature of 25.60 degrees Celsius was reported for the spring water. The pH levels at each of the spring locations were determined to be within the acceptable range. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chlorides are examples of cations, whereas chlorides and nitrates are examples of \"anion\" molecules that make up dissolved solids. Spring L7 and L9 had the highest recorded levels of TDS, at 132 mg/L and 320 mg/L, respectively. Nonetheless, according to BIS (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) and WHO (2011), all of the values were within the acceptable range. The presence of dissolved minerals, such hydroxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate, causes water to be alkaline. None of the spring water exceeded the legal limits for total alkalinity. Spring L7 and L9 had the highest potassium levels, beyond the legal limit, with concentrations of 13.4 and 15.7 milligrams per liter, respectively, according to the stated limits set by the World Health Organization (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e) and the Bureau of Industrial Safety (2012). Chemical weathering of carbonate host rock, agricultural activities within the catchment region, and the disposal of garbage and excrete surrounding the spring might be possible causes of the greater potassium content at spring sites L7 and L9. Nevertheless, every single spring water sample had a potassium level that is well within the acceptable range. In addition, all of the spring water samples showed a trace amount of sodium, which is below the legal limit of 200 mg/L. Spring L7 and L9 have the highest concentrations of sodium and chloride, the primary components of salt water. Spring L7 and L9 may have a salty flavor due to the high levels of chloride in the water. Because of its salty nature, the spring draws animals from the surrounding forest and settlements. Spring L7 and L9 had greater chloride concentrations than the others, although these readings are still well within the safe range allowed by the World Health Organization (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e) and the Bureau of Industrial Safety (2012). Sites L2 and L8, which are springs located in areas rich in carbonate rocks, have elevated magnesium and calcium concentrations. The reaction between water and the carbonate rock in the area produces these ions. Magnesium and calcium concentrations vary substantially with the seasons. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e shows that the maximum magnesium content observed was 57.24 mg/l at spring L3, which is higher than the allowable limit set by the World Health Organization in 2011. All other spring water samples, however, had magnesium levels that were within the allowed range for both seasons. Calcium and magnesium values in every water sample were well within the safe range. Because of the high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions, spring water is hard. Although L7 and L9 had quite high overall hardness values, not all springs had. The hardness values of the spring water, however, were all within the permitted range (BIS, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Anthropogenic processes and weathering of the host carbonate rock may explain the elevated overall hardness value. Except for L3 and L9, which have a salty taste and are hence rarely utilized by the locals, all of the spring water samples had good and drinkable water characteristics (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Using a weighted arithmetic WQI approach, we were able to determine the spring water's purity level and determine if it was safe to drink. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e shows the Water Quality Index (WQI) values for all of the spring water samples. The spring value is entirely below 50, which is considered to be in the \"excellent\" category for drinking water.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater Quality Index (WQI) values for all of the spring water samples.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpring Code\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWQI\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eL2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e27.50\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e23.39\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e14.39\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e33.46\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e28.57\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e21.64\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e24.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL10\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6.49\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003et Stat\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-0.440\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eP value one-tail\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.3377\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003et Critical one-tail\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.941\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eT Critical one-left tail\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-1.946\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe used a 0.05 significance level and a 95% confidence level to conduct the paired t-test analysis. All of these factors were thought to be associated with the springs' WQI fluctuation and change. Results from the paired t-test computation reveal a 'p' value (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.337) higher than the 0.05 threshold for statistical significance. In a similar vein, the critical value is higher than the permissible range of recorded t statistics values (-0.440). That the variation in WQI is negligible was shown by this. There was no discernible variance in the water quality throughout the springs, and the majority of them were found to be of a drinkable and high standard. But before they can be used around the home, springL7 and L9 need further care.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe surrounding country rock also has an effect on the quality of the spring water (Dwivedi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Michalik, 2007). The research area's spring sites are all part of the same rock formation: a cretaceous sediment group in the north and a migmatite intrusion in the south. Carbonate host rock may explain why spring water (spring-L7 and spring-9) has Iron present. The water samples taken from springs L2 and 6 had lower pH values, whereas the water from spring L7 had a greater magnesium content. Potassium levels in spring-L9 were also higher than those recommended by the World Health organization (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e) and the British Institutes of Science (2012). This could be because of the weathering of the host rock or the fact that there is a lot of farming around the spring site, which deposits salt, dirt, human excrete and fertilizer residue. The water quality index (WQI) of every spring was determined to be both drinkable and very high. Share springs at site 3 are becoming less perennial in the current circumstances. The water quality is also being greatly impacted by the human activities occurring within the catchment area of springs. Since many water-borne illnesses are more common during the rainy season, it is very important to examine the springs' water quality and discharge at regular intervals throughout this time. During the dry season, weathering activity is at its peak, dissolving minerals and increasing their concentration in water. According to research by Patil et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), water may become poisonous when it has high levels of alkalinity, pH, and hardness. Additional research on the effluent and water quality monitoring of Share area springs is needed in the future. In order to revitalize the Share springs, it is necessary to raise awareness and strengthen the abilities of local community people.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eM, O Arowolo wrote the main manuscript, and prepared the whole tables and figures, S.O, and J.A, did final review of the manuscript. All authors agreed to the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsent to Publish declaration: not applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding was received for conducting this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funds, grants, or other support was received.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthics and Consent to Participate declarations: not applicable \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAderogba, KA (2005) Grand Water Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Abeokuta \u0026ndash; Ewekoro \u0026ndash; Ifo \u0026ndash; Ota - Agbara Axis in Ogun State, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ., 1-2(2): 51\u0026ndash;68. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdimalla N., Venkatayogi S. 2018. Geochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater suitability for domestic and agricultural utility in semi-arid region of Basara, Telangana state, South India. Applied Water Science, 8(44). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201- 018-0682-1. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAly A.A, Al-Omran A.M, Alharby M.M. 2015. The water quality index and hydrochemical characterization of groundwater resources in Hafar Albatin, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 8(6):4177\u0026ndash;4190. https://doi. org/10.1007/s12517-014-1463-2 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalan, I.N., Shivakumar, M. and Kumar, P.D.M., 2012. An assessment of ground water quality using water quality index in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Chronicles of Young Scientists, 3(2), 146-150. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBIS 2012. Indian standard specification for drinking water (IS 10500: 2012). \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrown, R.M, McClelland, N.I, Deininger, R.A. and Tozer, R.G., (1970) Water quality index-do we dare ?, Water Sewage Works, 117(10), 339-343. 1970 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChowdhury, R.M., Muntasir, S.Y. and Hossain, M.M. 2012. Water quality index of water bodies along Faridpur-Barisal road in Bangladesh. Global Engineers and Technology Review, 2(3). 1-8. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDwivedi, A.K. 2017. Research in water pollution- A Review. International Research Journal of Natural and Applied Science, 4, 2349-4077, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12094.08002\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorton, R.K., (1965). An index number system for rating water quality. Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation, 37(3), 300-305. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKing M (2008) Bottled Water-Globa IndustryGuide-New Research Report on Companies and Markets. 4. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMachalik, A. 2008. The use of Chemical and Cluster Analysis for Studying Spring Water Quality in Swietokrzyski National Park. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 17(3), 357- 362. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMayers, LW (2005) Urban Water Supply: Handbook. New York: Culinary and Hospitality Industry Publication Services, pp. 102-113. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOyawoye MO (1970) the basement complex of Nigeria. In: Dessauvagie TFJ, Whiteman AJ (eds) African geology. Ibadan University Press, pp 66\u0026ndash;102 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePatil, P.N., Sawant, D.V. and Deshmukh, R.N. 2012. Physico-chemical parameters for testing of water \u0026ndash; A review. International Journal of Environmental Science, 3(3), 1194-1207. ISSN 0976 \u0026ndash; 4402\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRahaman M. A (1976) .Review of the Basement Geology of Southwestern Nigeria. In: \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeology of Nigeria, edited by C.A. Kogbe, Elizabethan Publ. Co., Lagos. pp. 41- 58. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRamakrishnaiah, C.R., Sadashivaiah C. and Ranganna, G. 2009. Assessment of water quality index for the groundwater in Tumkur Taluk, Karnataka state, India. Journal of Chemistry, 6(2):523\u0026ndash;530. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRao, C.S., Rao, B.S., Hariharan, A.V.L.N.S.H. and Bharathi, N.M. 2010. Determination of water quality index of some areas in Guntur district Andhra Pradesh, International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical technology, 1(1), 79- 86. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVilane, B.R. Thulane and Dalmini, J. 2016. An Assessment of the Mhlambanyoni Spring Water Quality at Sigombeni, Swaziland. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 2(5), 40-45. SSN: 2381-6821 (Print); ISSN: 2381-6848 (Online) \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld Health Organization (2011). Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, WHO Press, Geneva, Switzerland, 4th edition, 518 p. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Artesian, Physicochemical parameters, Water Quality Index, Statistical analysis","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7445226/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7445226/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe residents of the Share region rely on springs, which are an inherent component of the landscape, as their primary water supply. The majority of the springs examined in the region are either contact, gravitational, or fracture kinds. Because this is a contact zone, these rocks are considered to be Cretaceous. We tested the spring water's cleanliness by collecting samples of it. In various locations around the region, ten artesian springs were located. Phosphorus, temperature, total dissolved solids, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and total hardness were some of the physicochemical characteristics examined in the water samples that were taken. After that, the spring water's purity was verified using the water quality index technique. Tests on water samples taken from 10 different springs came out negative. We examined water quality using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test for significant differences; however, no such differences were found. Due to the high quality of all examined samples, the water seems to be safe for human consumption. The only catch is that the spring has to be L7 and L9 has to be treated before human consumption could be considered. clinical trial not applicable\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"An Assessment of the Spring Water Quality in the Share Region of Southern Nigeria Using the Water Quality Index","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-19 07:56:45","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7445226/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1cd90293-93da-462c-b280-acea948a0f32","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 19th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-10T04:40:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-19 07:56:45","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7445226","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7445226","identity":"rs-7445226","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}