Self Purification of a Freshwater Stream in Ile-Ife: Lessons for Water Management

Stream flow samples were collected with distances downstream over a river stretch of 6.5km. The rivers transcend different land use pattern and took it source from a large refuse dump in the central market (Ogbe market) Ile-Ife before flowing into a dam. Seven sampling points were carefully selected downstream the channel. The examined water parameters were sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg+), phosphorous (P), Nitrate (No- 3), water hardness, ph and suspended particles. Descriptive and inferential methods were employed on the study. Chemical parameters highly varied with distances downstream. A comparison of the chemical parameters at sampling point 1 and 7 shows that Mg+, Ca+, Na+, P, No- 3, water hardness, suspended particles reduced at the rivers mouth (dam) correlation statistics further shows that only Ca+, P, No- 3 and suspended particles actually showed evidences of self purification. Further, Ph and Na+ in the river actually exceeded the WHO highest permissible drinking water standard. The paper calls for further research in the area of monitoring water quality.