ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND HEAVY METALS IN KEFALO SPRING WATER OF LIMMU GENET TOWN, JIMMA ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Major Advisor: Raji Feyisa (PhD) ABSTRACT Spring water is a major source of water for drinking and domestic use. The study was to assess selected physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals in kefalo spring water of Limu Genet town, Jimma zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Spring water samples were collected during two intervals of seasons (Dry and Wet Seasons). The levels of selected heavy metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Ni within the samples of kefalo spring water of Limu Genet town were determined by using FAAS. Data was analyzed using Origin 8 software and The Statistical differences were tested by using ANOVA. pH, To and EC were determined by using pH meter, thermometer, and conductivity meter. TA and Cl- by titration method, while TDS, COD and NO3-, was determined by TDS meter and Spectrophotometric method respectively. The mean average physico-chemical Parameters and the metals in water samples were listed as; pH(6.50±0.41 to 6.80±0.81log unit), To(22±1.05 to 22.06±0.97oC), EC (127.56 ± 0.79 to 166.99 ± 0.01µS), TA (79.75 ± 0.66 mg/L to 89.92 ± 0.42), Cl- (143.175 ± 0.275 to 174.84 ± 2.71 mg/L), TDS (133.67 ± 2.08 to 139.13 ± 0.99 mg/L), NO3-(0.025 ± 0.01 to 0.046 mg/L),COD (12.00 ± 4.00 to 13.33 ± 2.31 mg/L), Fe (0.279 ± 0.0011 to 0.332 ± 0.0007mg/L), Cu( 0.061±0.001mg/L to 0.062 ± 0.0001mg/L), Zn(0.182 ± 0.0005 to 0.350 ± 0.0080 mg/L), Cd (0.005 ± 0.001mg/L to 0.0051 ± 0.0011 mg/L), Mn (0.216 ± 0.001 to 0.301 ± 0.0015mg/L), Cr (0.062 ± 0.0001mg/L to 0.065 ± 0.0001mg/L.), Ni(0.13 ± 0.0012 to 0.18 ± 0.008mg/L ) and Pb was not detected. This study revealed that the Physico-chemical variables such as pH, To, EC, TA, Cl-, TDS, NO3-, COD, and from heavy metals, (Fe) were lie within the permissible limit recommended by WHO guide line values. The levels of concentration of (Cu, Zn and Pb) were fall below the standards, while concentration of (Cd, Mn, Cr and Ni) was fall above maximum allowable limit recommended by WHO and USEPA guide line values. Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters, Heavy metals, Kefalo spring water, FAA