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Comparative Evaluation Of The Physicochemical Parameters Of Major Rivers In Enugu Urban, Nigeria.

Abstract

he natural waters are being contaminated as the quality of water is increasingly being affected by anthropogenic activities especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. This increased contamination of surface water has resulted from the recent urbanization and industrialization trend. The physicochemical analysis of surface water from Ekulu and Nyaba rivers were carried out using standard methods to determine their suitability for domestic consumption as rivers are vital freshwater systems that are critical for the sustenance of life. River water samples were collected in the period November, 2015 to April, 2016 from different parts of the rivers. The comparative results showed a mean value range of temperature (25.50°C ± 0.87°C to 29.25°C ± 0.63°C), colour (26.20 Hz ± 4.0 Hz to 36.0 Hz ± 2.0 Hz), odour (unobjectionable), total dissolved solids (253 mg/l ± 6.21 mg/l to 283 mg/l ± 3.22 mg/l), conductivity (64 μs/cm ± 4.20 μs/cm to 66 μs/cm ± 3.20 μs/cm), pH (6.21 ± 0.42 to 7.33 ± 0.36), potassium (0.22 mg/l ± 0.01 mg/l to 0.43 mg/l ± 0.02 mg/l), sodium (0.28 mg/l ± 0.04 mg/l to 0.45 mg/l ± 0.017 mg/l), calcium (6.41 mg/l ± 0.02 mg/l to 8.34 mg/l ± 0.002 mg/l), iron (5.51 ± 0.02 to 6.53 ± 0.09), copper (2.34 ± 0.41 to 4.29 ± 0.21), zinc (3.14 ± 0.11 to 5.22 ± 0.01), total hardness (85.75 ± 5.87 to 102.20 ± 6.10), sulphate (264.21 ± 6.70 to 276.32 ± 6.40), phosphate (24.27 mg/l ± 0.06 mg/l to 32.16 mg/l ± 0.04 mg/l), nitrate (6.62 mg/l ± 0.08 mg/l to 7.25 mg/l ± 0.37 mg/l) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (42 mg/l ± 6.2 mg/l to 56.60 mg/l ± 5.8 mg/l) for both rivers. Although, the result of the study recorded some parameters which were above WHO permissible limits while others fall within the limits but the obtained values of the physicochemical in the water samples showed a significant difference (P<0.05) when compared with WHO permissible limits for those physicochemical. Comparatively, Nyaba river was more polluted than Ekulu river. This study would help to create and develop awareness among the people to help maintain the quality of the river waters.

Eze Chukwuebuka Thankgod And Nwagwe Onyinyechi Ruth

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