Water quality of some water sources in Igarra and the environs in Akoko - Edo, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Evaluation of the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of selected water sources from Igarra and environs in Akoko-Edo, Nigeria was carried out using standard methods. The results obtained for some of the parameters investigated were in the following range: pH (4.2 - 6.8), turbidity (0.01 – 0.75 NTU), conductivity (7.2 – 196.0 μScm-1 ), dissolved oxygen (3.2 – 29.2 mgL-1 ), biochemical oxygen demand (0.0 – 25.6 mgL-1), chloride (10.23 – 106.36 mgL-1 ), calcium (0.0 – 80.88 mgL-1 ), sulphate (0.0 – 7.35 mgL-1 ), nitrate (0.01 – 8.91mgL--1), copper (0.01 – 1.03 mgL-1 ), zinc (0.0 – 1.43 mgL-1 ), Iron (0.02 – 2.30 mgL-1 ) and lead (0.0 – 0.33 mgL -1). All samples harboured coliform organisms in numbers that exceeded the WHO standard for drinking water. Ranges of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) count was 1.0 x 103 - 1.3 x 104 cfuml-1 ; total heterotrophic fungi (THF) count 1.0 x 103 - 9.0 x 103 cfuml-1 ; presumptive coliform count 0 - 2.9 MPN 100 ml-1 and Escherichia coli 0 - 2.7 MPN 100 ml-1 . This study revealed that magnesium hardness, microbial contamination, and acidity of the water sources which resulted in corrosivity of the water are some of the indicator parameters for Akoko-Edo water quality; and therefore concluded that the water sources were unsuitable for human consumption. Adequate and appropriate treatment of the water prior to consumption to maintain good public health is therefore recommended.Keywords: Water Quality, Public Health, Coliform, Hardness, Corrosivity