Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of water samples from Ata/ Ehimiri Stream watershed ecosystem in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

A single factor experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was used to study the physico-chemical properties of water samples from four watershed locations within Ata/ Ehimiri Stream in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria. Water samples were collected in duplicates from the different sampling locations using white polyethylene bottles (DO-Dissolved Oxygen, and BOD-Biological Oxygen Demand) bottles according to Ademoroti, (1996) methods. The results showed the physico-chemical properties of the stream water within the watershed ecosystem, the turbidity and temperature contents of the four study locations were statistically similar. The NRCRI and Fish Farm locations had significantly the highest and least hardness contents. The CVM and Raphia palm sites had the highest and least (p ≤ 0.05) conductivity values. The Fish Farm site had significantly the highest Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The statistically similar Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the water samples from the NRCRI and CVM locations were significantly higher than the similar TDS values of the Fish Farm and Raphia palm locations. The pH of the water samples at the NRCRI locations was` significantly higher than the statistically similar pH values of the Raphia palm, CVM and Fish Farm sites. The NRCRI and the Fish Farm sites had the highest and least (p ≤ 0.05) acidity contents. The NRCRI location also had the highest alkalinity and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) contents. The water samples from the Raphia palm and NRCRI sites had significantly the highest and least Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) contents respectively. The Cl^-, NO₃^-, SO₄^-, PO₄^-3, and Pb contents of the water samples are within the acceptable limits/ range of drinking water and for other human uses.