Water Quality Assessment of Dutsin-Ma Dam, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Maintenance of healthy aquatic environment and production of sufficient food in reservoirs are primarily linked with successful reservoir  culture operations. To keep the aquatic habitat favorable for existence of living organisms, physical and chemical factors like  temperature, turbidity, pH, odor, dissolved gases (Oxygen and CO2), salts and nutrients as well as presence of heavy metals must be monitored regularly, individually or synergistically. The aim of this research was to assess the quality of water in Dutsin-Ma dam. During  the study, physico-chemical parameters, Phytoplanktos diversity as well as heavy metals presence of Dutsin-Ma Dam were studied for the  period of four months, July, 2021 to September, 2021 (rainy season). Water temperatures, Water pH, were measured. Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity and Total dissolved solids were determined Spectrophometrically. Results of the determination of physico-chemical  parameters showed that temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, zinc and chromium  were varied. Similarly, Phytoplanktons were collected using small sampling bottles and identified. Five (5) species grouped into Four (4)  classes of phytoplankton comprising of Chlorophyta, Charophyta, Cyanophyta and Chrysophyta were recorded. Species identified  includes Characium sp, Gleotrichia sp, Mallomonas sp, Closterium sp and Chlorella sp. Heavy metals were analyzed by digestion and  analysis using Palintest Spectrophotometer (7100). The results of heavy metal analysis showed the presence of zinc and chromium which  varies between July to August. The value of Chromium was high in August (5.39±2.20) while lowest in the month of September  (1.65±0.77). Correlation matrix showed that there were significant positive correlations between phytoplanktons diversity and physico- chemical parameters of the dam water. This suggests that the dam water is not fit for drinking during this season.