PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM IKOGOSI WARM SPRING,COLD STREAM AND IPOLE-ILORO WATER FALLS

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.