The aim was to measure the concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater obtained from 30 randomly\nselected domestic wells and 10 stream locations all in Ibadan, Nigeria, compare the results with the\nWorld Health Organization guidelines, draw conclusions and make recommendations. Water samples\nwere obtained and analysed for Pb, As, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe and Mn. Overall, the minimum concentrations\nof Pb, As, Cd, Cr and Fe in the well water samples were below detection limit (BDL). The maximum\nvalues were 0.02, 0.45, 0.01, 0.445, 0.135, 0.09, 0.245 and 0.155 mg/l respectively. In the surface water\nsamples, the minimum concentrations of Pb, As, Cd and Cr were below detection level, while the\nmaximum concentrations of Pb, As, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe and Mn were respectively 0.075, 0.05, 0.001,\n0.445, 0.120, 0.065, 0.45 and 0.16 mg/l. No evidence of contamination of these water supply sources with\nheavy metals was found going by the fact that the values obtained were lower than the guideline values\nestablished by the World Health Organization. A possible exception is As which in some samples had\nhigher concentrations than the WHO guideline. The recommendations of the study include continuous\nand close monitoring of these private drinking water supplies. There must also be strict compliance to\nregulatory limits in sludge and wastes to be released into the environment, and enforcement of other\nenvironmental protection regulations. Findings from this study will be of immense help to the general\npublic as well as researchers and environmental regulators working in this area of interest in\ndeveloping countries.\nKey words: Heavy metals,
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