PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER FROM RIVERS OF SOME OIL-PRODUCING COMMUNITIES IN ANAMBRA STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

The physicochemical properties of water from ten rivers in some oil-rich communities in Anambra State used by the residents for drinking and other household activities were investigated. Total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate ion (PO4-), nitrate ion (NO3-) and sulphate ion (SO4-) were determined using standard methods. The results show that TDS ranged from 6.10 – 268 mL, EC (50 – 167 µs/cm-1), pH (2.5 – 10), TA (25.25 – 50 mg/L), TH (6 - 230 mg/L), DO (27.4 – 41.6 mg/L), BOD (72-141 mg/L), COD (101 – 176 mg/L), PO4- (7.852 – 12.049 mg/L), NO3- (5.493 – 11.304 mg/L), SO4- (78.109 –94.873 mg/L). The Concentration of TDS in all the water samples were below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended permissible limits except I and F. The pH of all the samples were below the recommended limit except J and C which were within the limit while that of B was above the permissible limit. The concentrations of EC, COD, NO3- and SO4- in all the samples were below the recommended permissible limits while those of DO, BOD and PO4- were above the limits as TA and TH were within the limits except the TA of A and TH of D that were below the limits. The study has shown that water from the rivers in the oil-rich communities of Anambra State could not be said to be potable and the need for government intervention for sustainable potable water supply to the communities.