Ethiope River courses at Okuzu and Obiaruku quarters; in Obiaruku town, Delta State, was examined to ascertain their suitability for domestic consumption. Composite samples Eight (8) samples in all were collected in the months of December, 2012 and March, 2013 as well as in the months of July, 2012 and September, 2012 and in-situ parameters recorded before further laboratory analyses were performed on the samples. Results revealed seasonal variation in the pattern of contamination. Parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity E.C.; Nitrate, NO3-; Sulphate, SO42- as well as most of the heavy metals examined were found to have higher concentrations during the dry season periods. The concentrations of most of the parameters examined were above the WHO standards for drinking water. The metallic contaminants are in the range of Iron, Fe (0.582±0.002-0.910±0.003mg/l); Manganese, Mn (0.022±0.002-0.045±0.001mg/l); Lead, Pb (0.005±0.001-0.020±0.001mg/l); Cadmium, Cd (0.003±0.001-0.011±0.001mg/l) and Zinc, Zn (0.050±0.002-0.106±0.001mg/l) for both wet and dry seasons. BOD values varied from 2.69±0.04mg/l to 4.18±0.01mg/l while turbidity ranged from 3.2±0.6 NTU to 4.8±1.2 NTU for both wet and dry seasons. Parameters such as electrical conductivity, E.C., Hardness, Alkalinity, Nitrate, NO3-; Sulphate, SO42- Dissolved Oxygen, DO; Chemical Oxygen Demand, COD; and PH detected were below the WHO desirable limits for drinking water. In all, the two water bodies examined were found to be contaminated with high amounts of heavy metals, BOD as well as turbidity thus, not suitable for use without appropriate treatment. It is therefore recommended that these water sources be protected from direct exposure to storm water run-offs.
Azuka Nwabike Amitaye (Thu,) studied this question.