Sanitary chemical analysis of protected springs in Jimma zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract: Sanitary chemical analysis is one of the methods used to evaluate the safety of water. Water samples were collected from sixteen protected springs located in and around Jimma, Agaro, Shebe, and Asendabo towns from April to May 1997. After making three determinations in three samples taken from each protected spring, average analytical data of sanitary chemicals, namely, chloride (Cl-), ammonia (NH3+), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate (NO3-), were compiled. Although concentrations of ammonia and nitrite were low, nitrate concentration which exceeded the safe level (50 mg/l) was recorded at three sites in Agaro and in one in Shebe area. The four springs with the highest nitrate concentrations were also noted to have the highest chloride concentration. This finding indicates the presence of organic pollution and, therefore, the microbiological safety of the protected springs is questionable. Moreover, the presence of excess nitrate in drinking water supply may present a potential health hazard as it is known to cause methemoglobinemia, especially in young infants. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(1):45-48]