Physicochemical, heavy metal and microbial analyses of Awba Dam Water, University Of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The impacts of anthropogenic activities on surface water quality, heavy metals and microbial load of Awba Dam, University of Ibadan were studied for four months. Awba Dam was stratified into four stations (A, B, C and D) based on hydrological features. Two sampling points were randomly selected from each station. Monthly stratification covered September to December. Water samples were collected bi-weekly following standard procedures. Water samples collected were analysed for temperature (oC), dissolved oxygen (DO, mg/L); heavy metal (HM) (lead, iron, chromium and copper) in water (mg/L) and microbial loads (ML) (CFU/100 mL) according to standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Significantly highest and least temperatures were 27.60 ± 2.23 and 27.10; DO (3.84 ± 0.35, 3.37 ± 0.11) in stations D and A, while BOD (5.81 ± 2.69, 5.30 ± 2.42) were recorded in stations A and B respectively. Significantly highest and least levels of HM were: lead (0.89 ± 0.35, 0.14 ± 0.06); iron (0.48 ± 0.08, 0.19 ± 0.05); chromium (3.51 ± 0.01, 1.50 ± 0.01) and copper (0.01 ± 0.01, 0.01 ± 0.01) were recorded in September and November, but ML (4.76 x 10-6 and 4.00 x 10-6) were obtained as highest and lowest in December and September respectively. Results from this study showed that, Awba Dam is contaminated with lead, iron, chromium and copper and ML. It is recommended that adequate monitoring and pollution reduction strategies be implemented to improve the aquatic resources of the dam.