Assessment of heavy metal composition of Ogbujilekwe Stream Watershed in Nimo, Njikoka L.G.A. of Anambra State

Abstract

The study on heavy metals was conducted at the Ogbujilekwe stream watershed. The study aimed to ascertain the heavy metal content of the watershed and the water from the nearby stream and to find out if there is any relationship between the heavy metals in the watershed and that in the waters sample. The experiment was laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design. The heavy metals that were investigated in this research work are Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). The result of mean values of the heavy metals shows that the heavy metals were significant and Cu followed by Hg was the most significant at p< 0.005. Also, Hg in soil was above the permissible limit for soil samples. Results from the mean values of the water samples also showed that all the heavy metals were significant in water, and mercury was the most significant heavy metal. From correlation analysis of the heavy metals in soil and water, only mercury in the soil had a positive correlation with mercury in water, and an increase in other heavy metals in the water had no relationship with the watershed. The mercury pollution in the water can therefore be attributed to the discharge from the watershed.