Assessment of surface water physico-chemical parameters of Yardantsi Reservoir, Gusau Nigeria

Abstract

The Yardantsi Reservoir, Gusau Nigeria serves multitude of purposes for the Gusau populace. It is the main source of water for domestic purpose, irrigation, and fishing. The reservoir receives both organic and inorganic waste through runoffs and seepage from the catchment areas. The physico- chemical parameters of the surface water were investigated monthly from May, 2015 to April, 2017. Samples were collected from five sampling stations and analyzed using standard procedures for examination of water and waste water. The data obtained was subjected to multivariate analysis using Microsoft office excels and SPSS. The results showed the following mean seasonal variation of surface water temperature (26.62±0.34– 30.12±0.17ᴼC),transparency (48.82±1.08- 22.07±0.87cm), mean depth (2.12±0.05-2.65±0.04m), pH (7.61±0.15-7.96±0.13), electrical conductivity (186.32±3.84- 108.05±5.43µS/cm), total dissolved solids (96.00±1.95- 63.70±3.68mg/L), dissolved oxygen (7.80±0.11-6.91±0.10mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (2.71±0.09-2.48±0.05mg/L), alkalinity (40.57±0.69–27.87±0.51mg/L), hardness (59.20±1.01– 32.18±0.94mg/L), NO_3-N (2.28±0.08-4.44±0.07mg/L), PO_4-P (123.72±1.44-173.48 ± 2.78 mg/L), sulphate (31.62±1.45-71.80±1.82mg/L)  and chloride (74.08±1.67- 37.64±0.96mg/L) for dry and rainy seasons respectively. The results revealed that a highly significant seasonal variation (p<0.01) was exhibited in all parameters with the exception of pH which shows no significant seasonal variation (p>0.05) and biochemical oxygen demand, which shows a significant seasonal variation (p<0.05). The results of this survey showed that the parameters observed indicated that most of them fall within the recommended range set by World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ).

Keywords: Dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, reservoir, temperature