Abstract:
The pollution status of three rivers (Ureje, Awedale and Ologan) in Ado-Ekit, Ekiti State, Nigeria was investigated by carrying out necessary physicochemical, microbiological and heavy metal (elemental) analyses on them. Twenty physicochemical parameters were determined, notable results were as follows; Temperature ranged from 25.01-26.01°C; Colour, 29.30-35.16 true colour units (TCU), pH 6.15-6.58; total suspended solids (TSS), 0.10-1.00 mg/l; total dissolved solids (TDS), 100-284 mg/l; total solids (TS), 156-394 mg/l; acidity, 1.08-1.32 mg/l CaCO3; total hardness, 100.2-106.8 mg/l CaCO3; chlorite, 0.61-0.71 mg/l; nitrate, 2.00-7.55 mg/l; sulphate, 2.50-3.16 mg/l; dissolved oxygen (DO), 5.80-7.10 mg/l; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 12.5- 111.85 mg/l and chemical oxygen demand (COD), 17.70-183.12 mg/l. River Ologan showed highest values for colour, turbidity, alkalinity as HCO3¯, nitrate, chloride, BOD and COD. For river Ureje, temperature, pH, conductivity, TDS, TS and total alkalinity were the highest. River Awedale was high in total hardness and sulphate. The elemental analyses also revealed that Cu, Cr, Pb, Mn, and Cd were significantly high in river Ologan. Pb, Cr and Cd were non detected in Ureje while Cr and Cd were also non detected in Awedale. Majority of the results obtained for the physciochemcial and elemental analyses far exceeded the WHO recommended values. Similarly the bacteriological analysis indicated the presence of coliform bacteria in all the rivers above the WHO recommended values. It can be concluded that all the rivers are heavily polluted with the degree of pollution being Ologan>Awedale>Ureje.
Page(s):
22-26
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, Volume: 50, Issue: 1, Year: 2007