ABSTRACT
Introduction: In the Upper Benue Trough of Nigeria near Numan is a thermal spring flowing to the surface under natural conditions. Geologically, it is believed that this water passes through the Continental Bima Sandstones of the Albian, the transitional to marine Yolde Formation of the Cenomanian, and eventually through the continental Gombe Sandstones of Maastrichtian age, thus deriving their unique chemistry. Bottled mineral waters have been served in several parts of the world as a dietary water. They are a common source of essential micro and macro nutrients, needed by the human body. Materials: A sample of the thermal spring water was taken and analysed using the following techniques- electrometric method to determine electrical conductivity, pH value, iodide and fluoride content, the spectrophotometric method for the determination of ammonium, iron, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, silicate, bromate, and sulphate content, the flame photometric method for the determination of sodium, and potassium content, and finally the complexometric titration to determine calcium, and magnesium, the argentometric titration to determinate chloride, while the acidimetric titration was used in the determination of hydrocarbonate. Results: The following results were generated from the analyses done; temp 44.2°C, pH 7.38, mineralisation 442.63mg/l, Ca2+ 9.62, SO42- <1.00, NH4+ <0.05, Na+ 93.34, K+ 10.00, Mg2+ 2.43, Fe2+3+ <0.01, Mn2+ <0.01, F- 0.69, Cl- 20.20, Br- <0.05, J- <0.02, HCO3- 273.80, NO2- <0.02, NO3, <0.88, HB2- <0.05, H2SiO3 32.55, Total Hardness (mg/cm3, CaCO3) 32. Comparing these with the results of two bottled mineral water from Poland, namely: Jurajska, Ca2+ 66.1, SO42- 40.5, Na+ 10.0, K+ 2.2, Mg2+ 32.8, F- 0.4, Cl- 7.8, HCO3- 329.9 and Polaris, Ca2+ 102.2, Na+ 11.25, K+ 2.34, Mg2+ 16.0, F- 0.23, Cl- 2.50, HCO3- 432.7. Conclusion: One can conclude that the Ruwan Zafi- Numan is possibly a good source of dietary water which if exploited will improve the health needs of its consumers as well as boost national GDP.