Seasonal Variations in Physico-chemical and Bacteriological Parameters of Ulasi River, Okija, Anambra State

Abstract

The water quality conditions between December 2014 and July 2015 at the upstream and downstream of Ulasi River, Okija were evaluated for the influence of rural land use activities. Samples were collected at 50 m in triplicates from each location and the physico-chemical properties of these water samples were evaluated. Samples were stored in containers filled with ice packs and immediately taken to the laboratory to investigate some selected physico-chemical characteristics. Also, bacteriological study was carried out on the samples to check for the presence of coliforms. Results obtained were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standard for permissible drinking water. Results obtained for turbidity are 205 ± 0.70 (downstream), 25.70 ± 0.00 (upstream) for wet season and 138 ±0.60 (downstream), 15.8 ± 0.03 (upstream) for dry season. Turbidity values were significantly higher (p<0.05) during wet season than dry season and downstream values were significantly higher (p<0.05) than upstream values when compared with WHO standard. pH values were 5.90 ± 0.00 (downstream), 5.91 ± 0.31 (upstream) for wet season and 6.10 ± 0.00 (downstream),6.12 ± 0.11 (upstream) for dry season.The results of bacteriological study showed that all the sampling locations in downstream and upstream containedsignificantly higher (p<0.05) numbers of coliform bacteria and E. coli in both wet and dry seasons. The number of coliform bacteria and E. coli during wet season was 25.00±0.00, 2.00±0.00 (downstream), 17.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00 (upstream), and 18.00±0.02, 2.00±0.00 (downstream), 7.00±0.01, 1.00±0.00 (upstream) respectively during the dry season. Iron, ammonia and TOC content were significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared with WHO standard. This makes the water unsuitable for drinking and human usage and also a threat to the lives of the rural community.