Abstract:
The physico-chemical characterisation of water samples from the warm spring,
the cold stream and the mixed region of Ikogosi and Ipole-Iloro waterfalls, two
tourist centres in Ekiti State of Nigeria, was carried out. The physico-chemical
parameters investigated include: temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved
solid, total hardness, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen'
demand and chemical oxygen demand. The concentrations of the anions: cr,
N03-, SO/- and PO/- and those of the following metals. Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn,
Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Co, was determined using standard analytical methods.
The parameters varied among the water samples and with distance from the
sources of the warm spring, the cold stream and also the waterfalls.
Temperature range of 22°C - 39°C was obtained for water samples from both
tourist centres. pH values range from 6.9 - 7.3, electrical conductivity 120 -
160l-lmhos/cm, total dissolved solids 65 - 80 mg/l, alkalinity and hardness range
from 25-45 mg/l and 22-30 mg/l respectively. The cations and the anions do not
show extreme values, most of them were just average but lower than the WHO
standard for drinking water.
The overall analytical data suggest that the water from both tourist centers could
easily be processed for domestic consumption.
