Assessment of water quality in Canaanland, Ota, Southwest Nigeria

In this study, water points in Canaanland, Ota, and nearby Iju River were analyzed for biological and physicochemical properties including heavy metal content. Water quality parameters examined were pH, alkalinity, salinity, conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (Do), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr). All the water samples were slightly acidic (5.96 -6.54) except the bottled/ sachet Hebron water and Iju River water. The results were compared against drinking water quality standards laid by World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water (NSDW). The potable water samples were within the standards for consumable water and so are considered safe for human consumption. The surface waters, on the other hand, have high levels of total dissolved solids, conductivity and salinity. The BOD of the effluent water showed that the water was contaminated and the use of the water for domestic purposes by the inhabitants could lead to hazardous side effects.