ASSESMENT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETRS OF GANKA SPRING WATER IN KEBE TOWN, KELLEM WALLAGA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.

ADVISOR: RAJI FAYISA (PhD) ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the level of some heavy metals and the physicochemical parameters of Ganka spring water sample of Kebe town, Oromia regional state, Kellem Wollega, Ethiopia. The water samples were analyzed for some selected heavy metals and physicochemical parameters using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) and Spectrophotometer by following standard methods and laboratory procedures. The experimental procedures were set according to the international and national drinking water standards set by American Public Health Association (APHA). The some selected heavy metals and physicochemical parameters were determined using standard analytical procedures. The concentration levels of heavy metals (mg/L) in the Ganka water sample was found within the following ranges; Zn 0.07± 0.01,Cu 0.05±0.01, Fe 0.17±0.03), Pb and Cd not detected by the instrument selected and all are within the permissible limit set by both WHO, 2022 and CES, 2013 drinking water standards. The minimum and maximum results of the physicochemical analysis were obtained in the following; turbidity 1.53±5.05, pH 7.10±0.2, temperature 19.53 ±0.21C 0 , electrical conductivity 73.20±0.18, total dissolved solids 37.62±0.60mg/L, total alkalinity 53.33±5.05mg/L, total hardness 2.18±0.12mg/L, dissolved oxygen 6.73±0.50 mg/L similarly, the concentrations of anions (mg/L) chloride 2.73± 0.21 mg/L, sulfate 14.33±1.53 mg/L, nitrate 3.84±0.26 mg/L and phosphate 0.3± 0.02 mg/L. The maximum recoded value of dissolved oxygen the Ganka spring water sample (7.24 mg/L) was found to be above the permissible limit set by both (CES, 2013 & WHO, 2022) drinking water standards (5.0 – 7.0 mg/L) and All the rest studied properties of water sample were observed within the recommended permissible limits of WHO and CES standards that agreed with drinking water quality level. Keywords: Heavy metals, physicochemical, spring water, Ganka spring water, Spectrometer