African Journal of Geo-Science Research, 2013, 1(2):07-11 ISSN: 2307-6992 Available Online: http://ajgr.rstpublishers.com/ BASIC ANALYTICAL EXAMINATION OF SELECTED STREAMS AND THEIR WATER QUALITY IN ADO-EKITI (SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA) AND ITS NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES. Siyanbola T.O1*, Olanipekun E.O2, Edobor-Osoh A1, Adekoya J.A1., Akinsiku A. A1, Ehi-Eromosele C. O1. 1.Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, P.M.B. 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. 2.Chemistry Department, Ekiti State University, P.M.B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. E-mail: tolusiyanbola@gmail.com Received:24 th , Apr,2013’ Revised: 29 th, Apr,2012; Accepted:07 th, May,2013. Abstract Water samples were collected from ten (10) streams at different locations within Ado-Ekiti and its environ in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria. The samples were evaluated for their physico-chemical properties. The samples under investigation has pH within the range 7.6 to 8.2; total hardness 8.0 mg/l to 196.0 mg/l; Calcium and Magnesium hardness 1.6 mg/l to 76.0 mg/l and 0.49 mg/l to 19.93 mg/l respectively; total solids 0.2 mg/l to 1.2 mg/l; total suspended and total dissolved solids 0.00 to 0.06 mg/l, 0.14 mg/l to 1.16 mg/l respectively; free carbondioxde 3.74 × 10-3 mg/l to 5.72 × 10-3 mg/l; phenolphthalein acidity 9.0 mg/l to 15.0 mg/l; conductivity 4.0 µScm -1 to 570 µScm-1. The metal analysis results from atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) are as follows: Sodium (2.7 mg/l to 60.1 mg/l), Potassium (4.0 mg/l to 52.0 mg/l), Zinc (0.80 mg/l to 1.51 mg/l), Calcium (1.60 mg/l to 76.0 mg/l), Iron and Lead were not detected in the sample considered. Keywords: Physico-chemical, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ado-Ekiti and Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Water is one of the most important substances needed by human, animals and plants for their day to day activities and survival. Dubey and Maheshwari, (2006) defined water as a very essential part of protoplasam and that it creates a state for metabolic activities to occur effortlessly; therefore, no life can exist without water. But the prevailing lack of infrastructures in the rural areas of Nigeria has made this resource material (water) from the streams and rivers the major source through which the inhabitants in these areas get water (Siyanbola et al., 2011, Nikoladze and Akastal, 1989; Lemo, 2002; Eze & Madumere, 2012). However, the industrialization of urban areas and the non conformity of the industries with regulatory standards for effluent discharge are hampering the portability of the streams and river sources. Due to these increasing antienvironmental human activities (e.g. discharging of effluents into municipal drains) there is a vivid posing/up-setting the natural composition of the aquatic habitats and to the individuals that consume the aquatic matter as well as drinking from such water. Figure 1 below show how aquatic habitats are killed through such activities (Onuegbu 2008, Siyanbola et al., 2011). Pollution of water is the major cause for the spread of many epidemics and serious diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, typhoid, diarrhea and ultimately death (Harrison 1958; Lenat and Crawford 1994; Biggs 1995; Gergel et al., 1999; Caraco et al., 2003; Donohue et al., 2006; Khan et al., 2012). Pollution itself occurs when there is a change in the physical, chemical or biological condition in the environment which would harmfully affect the quality of human life including animal and plant life (Lowel and Thompson, 1992; Okoye et al., 2002; Muhibbu-din et al., 2011). Industrial wastes such as oil spillage are known to adversely affect innate life by directly poisoning or indirectly through plummeting the quality of the water as well as that of the streambed (Ahmed and Reazuddin 2000). Urban wastes, on the other hand, cause organic enhancement and spread pathogens of devastating and serious sickness. Federal Ministry of Health gave a statistics in 1994 that only about 30% of Nigerian have access to potable water (Dada and Ntukekpo 1997; Ajala 2009 ) while in the same year, United Nations estimated that 1.2 billion people lacked access to potable water worldwide (Oyeku et al., 2001). Fig. 1 Map showing unpolluted water (A) and polluted water (B) (Source: www.Google maps.com) 8 Siyanbola et al. The impact of the activities of man has been so widespread that the water bodies have lost their self-purification capability to a large extent (Sood et al., 2008; Anyanwu, 2012, Ranjini et al., 2010). The World Health Organization therefore has recommended continuous surveillance of water supplies, which should involve monitoring of the water supplies, from public health point of view, for safety and the ability to sustain water supplies. This is to be achieved through sanitary inspection and water quality analysis (World Health Organization, 2002, Drinking Water Guidelines; Bacteriological Parameters. World Health Organization, Geneva 5, 2)Stream water is the main source of water supply in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria, the urban and towns depend on the surface water such as streams, springs, dug well and bore hole for their daily activities. The quality and purity forms of these sources are very uncertain. The quality of natural water is generally governed by various physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The physical and chemical characteristics of water bodies affect the species, composition, abundance, productivity and physiological conditions of aquatic organisms in it (Bagenal, 1978). It is therefore very necessary to understand the physico-chemical and bacteriological qualities of these stream water bodies. The presence of coliforms, total dissolved solids, conductivity, pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are some of the significant parameters to study the water quality (Kumar et al., 2012). The objective of this study is to determine basic physico-chemical properties of selected streams in Ado-Ekiti and its environs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sampling and Sample Sites Water samples were collected in triplicate from eight (10) different streams as shown in the study location map (Figure 2). The samples were collected mid stream about five (5) meters away from the bank. The representative sample for each location was drawn out after mixing the three samples for each location together. The pH and conductivity of each sample were determined almost immediately on arrival at the laboratory. Samples collected were labeled accordingly showing the time and location. Table. 1: Description of Water Samples Sample Code Description Ogbese Stream Location Ireje Stream Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti Bamigboye, Ado-Ekiti Eku Stream Bashiri, Ado-Ekiti Awedele Stream Bashiri, Ado-Ekiti Elemi Stream University of Ado, Ado-Ekiti Ofin Stream Adehun, Ado-Ekiti Omisanjana Stream Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti Awedele Stream Textile, Ado-Ekiti Omoosuo Stream Iworoko Ekiti T1 Ireje Stream T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SAMPLES The parameters analyzed for the determination of the quality of the stream water are: pH, odour and appearance, conductivity, free carbondioxide in the sample, acidity of the sample, total solids (TS), Total suspended solids dried (TSS), Total hardness, Calcium Hardness by EDTA, Magnesium hardness by EDTA. pH was determined by use of a pH meter, the electrode was dipped into a beaker containing 100 mL of buffer solution of pH 9 and later pH 4 in order to calibrate the instrument. The electrode was dipped into the sample after calibration of the instrument. Odour of the sample was determined by smelling the water samples for any foulness in the odour. Conductivity was measured with a conductivity measuring bridge. The sample was poured into a cup-like material in the conductivity meter and the conductivity is read from the electronic meter in µScm-1. Free carbondioxide in the water sample was determined by adding five (5) drops of phenolphthalein to 100 mL of the water sample until the appearance of a pink colour that persists for about 30 minutes after titrating with sodium carbonate. Concordant reading were taken and recorded. The expression for calculating free CO2 in the samples is given below: Free CO2 = A x 22 x 100 mg/L 50 x 100 A = volume of the sample used. Fig. 2: Study Location Map Acidity of the water sample was determined via two methods; methyl orange acidity and phenolphthalein acidity. Methyl orange acidity was determined by pipetting 100 mL of the sample into a conical flask and adding one drop of the sodium thiosulphate solution so as to react with residual chlorine. Two drops of methyl orange 9 African Journal of Geo-Science Research, 2013, 1(2):07-11 indicator was added and titrated with N/50 sodium hydroxide until the red colour changes to yellow. Phenolphthalein acidity was done as above, but two drops of phenolphthalein indicator was added instead of methyl orange. The sample was titrated until the pink colour persisted for thirty minutes. T5 7.83 300 0.2 0.14 0.06 T6 7.68 130 0.1 0.08 0.02 T7 7.86 310 0.2 0.16 0.04 The Total Solid (TS) of the sample was determined by transferring aliquots of the sample to a dried and pre-weighed nickel crucible, the sample was then dried at 103˚C for one hour, cooled in a dessicator and weighed, the process of drying, cooling and re-weighing was done until the weight loss was less than 4% of the previous weight. T8 7.81 120 0.2 0.16 0.04 T9 7.96 270 0.4 0.40 0.00 T10 7.89 280 0.4 0.16 0.04 W  W1 Total solids  2 x 106 mg / L V Total suspended solid was determined by measuring 50 mL of the sample. It was sieved by using a filter paper and dried in an oven at 103˚C. The dried sample is cooled in a dessicator and reweighed. The process was repeated until the weight is constant. TS: Total Solids TDS: Total Dissolved Solids TSS: Total Suspended Solids Table 3: Analysis of Water Sample for Methyl Orange, Acidity, Free Carbondioxide,Phenolphalein, Acidity and Chloride W  W1 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)  2 x 106 mg / Ls Content. V Total hardness was determined by pipetting 50 mL of the sample Sampe Methyl Free Phenolphthalein Chloride and adding two drops of indicator. This was titrated against EDTA till Code Orange CO (mg/l) (mg/l) 2 the wine colour changed to a pure blue colour. (mg/l) (mg/l) V o l . o f E D T A x t i t r e v a l u e x3 xm .1m0 0 H a r d n es s mL of sample Calcium hardness was determined by addition of 2 mL of NaOH to 50 mL of the sample and titrating against EDTA until the colour changed from pink to purple. Ca 2 mg/L = mL of 0.01 EDTA x 1000 x 0.4008 vol. of sample Magnesium hardness was also determined adding 2 mL of ammonium chloride/ammonia solution; 0.1g Erichrome black T was added as the indicator. It was titrated immediately with EDTA until it turned from red to blue. Mg 2 = (Total hardness titre of 0.01M of EDTA) x 1000 x 0.243 Volume of sample T1 N.D T2 N.D T3 N.D T4 N.D T5 N.D T6 N.D T7 N.D T8 N.D T9 N.D T10 N.D N.D: Not Detectable 3.96 10.7 N.D 4.53 3.74 5.72 3.96 5.59 3.74 3.96 4.97 3.96 12.0 12.0 10.0 11.0 10.0 12.3 9.0 15.0 11.3 N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D Table. 4: Physical Properties of Water Sample RESULTS Table 2: Analysis of Stream water samples for pH, Conductivity, Total Solids, Dissolved Solids, and Suspended Solids. Sampl e Code pH T1 7.68 Co nduct ivity µS cm-1 210 TS (mg/L) TDS (mg/L) TSS (mg/L) 0.4 0.36 0.04 T2 8.21 570 0.2 0.14 0.06 T3 7.82 260 1.2 0.16 0.04 T4 7.55 40 0.8 0.76 0.04 Sample Code T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 N.D: Not Detected Appearance Odour Clear and Bright Clear and Bright Slightly Turbid Clear and Bright Slightly Bright Clear and Bright Clear and Bright Clear and Bright Clear and Bright Clear and Bright N.D N.D Faintly Perceived N.D Faintly Perceived N.D N.D N.D N.D N.D 10 Siyanbola et al. Table 5: Metal Analysis of Water Samples Samp le code T1 Na (mg/L) 12.1 K (mg/L) Zn (mg/L) Fe (mg/L) Pb (mg/L) Ca (mg/L) 13.2 1.51 N.D N.D 24.0 T2 60.1 52.0 0.91 N.D N.D 76.0 T3 13.2 6.8 0.90 N.D N.D 6.40 T4 2.7 4.0 0.92 N.D N.D 1.60 T5 11.2 7.5 0.92 N.D N.D 60.0 T6 8.4 7.8 1.01 N.D N.D 13.6 T7 10.4 6.0 0.82 N.D N.D 8.8 T8 6.0 8.1 0.80 N.D N.D 40.0 T9 11.8 9.6 0.75 N.D N.D 24.0 T10 10.6 6.4 0.85 N.D N.D 24.0 N.D: Not Detected TABLE 6: World Health Organization (W.H.O) Standards of Some of the Parameters(W.H.O, 2001) Parameters Concentration Lead (Pb) (mg/L) Calcium (Ca) (mg/L) Zinc (Zn) (mg/L) Iron (Fe) (mg/L) Sodium (Na) (mg/L) Colour / Turbidity pH Hardness as CaCO3 (mg/L) 0.1 0.01 10 7.5 3.0 5 NTU 6.5 – 8.5 100 TDS (mg/L) 0.2 The physico-chemical analysis of eights streams in Ado-Ekiti showed that the highest pH of 8.21 was found in the Ireje stream around Federal Polytechnic road in Ado-Ekiti (T2), while the lowest pH value 7.55 was found in Eku stream (T4). The result revealed that Ireje stream (T2) also had the highest conductivity value of 570 µScm-1. The highest TS of 0.8 mg/L was found in the Eku stream (T4) DISCUSSION The physico-chemical analyses of the eight streams are given in Tables 3 – 6, while the names of the streams with their acronyms are given in Table 1. Table 2 shows that pH values of the streams were within the W.H.O standards with the highest pH value being 8.21 from T2 and the lowest pH value of 7.55 from T4, this is because pH is determined by the amount of dissolved free carbon dioxide (CO2) in water (Hem, 1985; Abdullah and Musta, 1999). The Total Dissolved Solid of the streams calculated was found to be below W.H.O standards. The range of Total Solid was between 0.1 mg/L (T6) and 1.2 mg/L (T3). The Total Suspended Solid had its range between 0.00 (T2) and 0.06 mg/L (T5). Table 3 shows that methyl orange acidity was not detected for any of the samples. So also, there was no chloride content detected in the samples. But when phenolphthalein was used as the indicator in determining the acidity, it was found to be in the range of 9.0 mg/L and 12.3 mg/l. The free carbondioxide was also found to be in the range of 3.74 mg/l and 5.72 mg/l. Table 4 shows the calcium and magnesium hardness, and the total hardness of samples (T1 - T10). The tables show that 40% of the samples will not be good for domestic (disinfection or filtration) purposes because of the concentration of the total hardness of the samples. The concentration of calcium and magnesium hardness was lower than that stipulated by the W.H.O standard. Table 5 shows the physical properties of the streams, for samples T1, T2, T4, T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10 were clear, while T3 and T5 appeared to be slightly turbid. Most of the samples did not have offensive odour except for samples T3 and T5, which had a mild offensive odour. The metal analysis of the samples as shown in Table 6 shows that the level of the metals ranges for the samples as follow: sodium (2.7 - 60.1 mg/L), Zinc (0.75 – 60.1 mg/L), potassium (4.0 – 52.0 mg/L), Calcium (1.60 – 76.0 mg/L). Iron and lead were not detected in the samples. Conclusion Due to the results obtained from the analyses of the streams in Ado-Ekiti, it is clear that the parameters measured in the water samples collected from the streams were within the confines specific limits of World Health Organization (W.H.O, 2001). Therefore most of the streams could serve for domestic purposes such as drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. These results can be due to the fact that Ado-Ekiti and its environs have very few industries, but as the town begins to develop, the environmental condition might gradually change. It is therefore paramount that the streams under study be monitored periodically. References 1)Abdullah M.H. and Musta B. (1999) Phreatic water quality of the Turtle Island of West Malaysia: Pulau Hill Inc. New York. Selingan Pulau Bakungan Kechil. Borneo Science., 6: 1-9. 2)Ahmed A.U., Reazuddin, M., (2000) Industrial Pollution of Water Systems in Bangladesh, Environmental System of Surface Water Systems of Bangladesh, University Press Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh pp 175-178. 3)Ajala L., Ibrahim T., Adetuyi F. (2009) Preliminary Investigations On The Physio-Chemical And Microbiological Analysis Of Water From Streams Used For Drinking In Owo Local Government Area Of Ondo State.. The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness. Volume 8 Number 2. 4)Anyanwu E.D (2012) Physico-Chemical And Some Trace Metal Analysis Of Ogba River, Benin City, Nigeria, Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, Volume 5 , Number 1, Pages 47 – 54. 5)Bagenal T.B. (1978) Fecundity in Eggs and Early Life History (Part 1) In: Bagenal TB (Ed), Methods for Assessment of Fish Production in Freshwaters. 3rd Edition, 166 -178. 6)Biggs B.J.F. (1995) The contribution of disturbance, catchment geology and land use to the habitat template of periphyton in stream ecosystem. Freshwater Biology, 33: 419438. 11 African Journal of Geo-Science Research, 2013, 1(2):07-11 7)Caraco N.F., Cole J.J., Likens G.E., Lovett G.M., Weathers K.C. (2003) Variation in nitrate export from flowing waters of vastly different sizes: Does one model fit it? Ecosystems, 6: 344-352. 19)Lowel Thompson F. (1992) Biodiversity of vibrios. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., 68: 403-431. 8)Dada A., Ntukekpo D.S. (1997) Pure Water: How Safe? Ultimate Water Technology and Environment. Vol. 1 No. 3, pp 8-11. 20)Muhibbu-din O. I., Aduwo A.O., Adedeji A. A. (2011) Study of physiochemical parameter of effluent impacted stream in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 9)Donohue I. McGarrigle, M. L., Mills P. (2006) Linking catchment characterstics and water chemistry with the ecological status of Irish rivers. Water Research, 40: 91-98. 21)Nikoladze G.D.M., Akastal S. (1989) Water Treatment for Public and Industrial Supply MIR Publisher, Moscow, pp. 163. 10)Dubey, R.C. and Maheshwari, D.K. (2006) Practical Microbiology. 2nd ed., S. Chand & Co. Ltd, Ram Nagar, New Delhi, p. 352. 11)Eze S.O., Madumere I.C. (2012) Physicochemical And Microbiological Analysis of Water Bodies In Uturu, Abia State-Nigeria, Asian Journal of Natural & Applied Sciences Vol. 1 No. 4, pp 58-65. 12)Gergel S.E., Turner M.G., Kratz T.K. (1999) Dissolved organic carbon as an indicator of the scale of watershed influence on lakes and rivers. Ecological Application, 9: 1377-1380. 13)Harrison A.D., Elseworth J.F. (1958) Hydrological studies on the great Berg River, Western Cape Province. Part I. General description, chemical studies and main features of the flora and fauna. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr., 35:125-126. 14)Hem J.D. (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. 3rd edition, Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey: p 263. 15)Khan M.Y., Shabeer M., Raja, I.A., Wani N.A. (2012) PhysicoChemical Analysis of River Jhelum (Kashmir) Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Interdiciplinary Vol. 12 (11). 16)Kumar A., Rawat M., Srivastava S., Bhushan V. (2012) Volume 7, Number 3: 161-166. 17)Lenat D.R. Crawford J. K. (1994) Effects of land use on water quality and aquatic biota of three North Carolina Piedmont streams. Hydrobiologia, 294:185-189. 18)Lemo O.O. (2002) Man’s Control of Water Quality: The Chemical Control of Human Environment.International symposium on human environment. pp. 389. 22)Oyeku O.M., Omowumi O.J., Kupoluyi C.F., Toye E.O. (2001) Wholesomeness Studies of Water Produced and Sold in Plastic Sachets (Pure Water) in Lagos Metropolis. Nigerian Food Journal 19. Pp 63 – 69. 23)Okoye P.A.C., Enemuoh R. E., Ogunjiofor J.C. (2002) Traces of heavy metals in Marine crabs. J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria, vol. 27 (1) 7677. 24)Rajini K., Roland P., John C., Vincent R. (2010) Microbiological and physicochemical analysis of drinking water in George town. Nature and Science, 8 (8), 261-265. 25)Siyanbola T.O., Ajanaku K.O., James O.O., Olugbuyiro J.A.O., Adekoya J.O. (2011) Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Industrial Effluents in Lagos State, Nigeria. G. J. P&A Sc and Tech., Vol. 01, 49-54. 26)Sood A., Singh K.D., Pandey P., Sharma S. (2008) Assessment of bacterial indicators and physicochemical parameters to investigate pollution status of Gangetic river system of Uttarakhand (India). Ecological Indicators, 8: 709-717. 27)Onuegbu T.U., Okoye L.O., Dioha I.J., Okoye P.A.C., Nwako P.M. (2008) Treated effluents and sludges samples. J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria, Vol. 33 No. 1 pp 6-9. 28)World Health Organization (2002) Drinking Water Guidelines; Bacteriological Parameters. World Health Organization, Geneva 5, 2. 29)World Health Organization (2001) Drinking Water Guidelines; Heavy Metal Parameters. World Health Organization.