Identification and Quantification of Heavy Metals, Anions and Coliforms in Water bodies using Enrichment Factors

Abstract

Seven water samples collected from five surface waters and three deep wells in Ondo South were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals, anions and colifom bacteria. Five of the water samples gave MPN values ranging from 3 to 180 colony forming units (CFU)/per 100 mL, with presence of Escherichia coli and other coliforms. The mean of the results which was expressed in mg/l ranged from: Mg; 0.02-0.52; As, 0.01-0.02; Pb, 0.00-0.02; Cd, 0.00-0.05; Cu, 0.02-1.05; Fe, 0.01-0.48; Cr, 0.00-0.01; Zn, 0.01-0.3; Ni, 0.00- 0.04; Mn, 0.00 0.08; Phosphate, 0.74; 2.97; Sulphate, 2.46-24.22; Chloride, 118.33-324.97; Nitrate, 0.5-2.23. Mg, As, Cu, Cr and Ni showed significant positive relationship with PO4 3- and SO4 2- at 0.01 level while Pb, Cd and Zn at 0.05 level. Heavy metal concentration showed weak positive relationship with Cl- except Mn at 0.05 level. The trace metals had no relationship with NO3 - except Mg, As, and Cr which showed positive weak correlation. Manganese, Chromium and Iron were used to as reference elements for the computation of enrichment factor. The enrichment factor values using iron as reference element in all the locations had a decreasing trend of; Cd>Cu>Zn>As>Cr>Pb>Mn>Ni>Mg. Two major components were obtained from the principal component analysis.