PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF OBIZI RIVER IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF OBIZI RIVER

Abstract

Physico-chemical properties of Obizi River in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra state were analyzed for its pollution level and determined if it will be fit for domestic purposes. It is significant for cooking, drinking, fishing, recreational and other uses. It flows via a channel that may be contaminated by industrial, agricultural, and other anthropogenic activities, limiting its normal uses for cooking, drinking, fishing, recreational and other uses. The parameters analyzed include temperature (°C), pH, turbidity (NTU^b), conductivity μs/cm, resistivity mg/l, chloride mg/l. temperature(°C), pH, turbidity (NTU^b) resistivity mg/l and conductivity μs/cm was measured in-situ using a mercury thermometer with a range of 10⁰C -35⁰C, pH meter (HANNA H1991002), turbidimeter (Hl 88703, WAGTECH), conductivity and resistivity multi-meter (HI 991300, Hanna Instruments, Romania) and chloride was determined by titration. The results of the analysis were equivalent to World Health Organization (WHO) limit for domestic drinking water and other purposes. From the results obtained, it showed that all the parameters analyzed were above WHO permissible limit except resistivity and chloride which is within the world health organization (WHO) limit for domestic drinking water. As much, it is not recommended for human consumption and is recommended that the state government put in place a treatment plant which can be used to treat the Obizi River water before being used by the community that depends solely on it for domestic purposes.