Temporal and Spatial Physico-Chemical Parameters of River Galma, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Fresh water bodies all over the world are constantly faced with pollution challenges most of which are anthropogenic in nature. Determination of physico-chemical parameters is one of the many routine practices of determining the health of the ecosystem and the survivability of the living biota within it. This research focuses on the temporal and spatial physico-chemical parameters of River Galma. Water samples were collected from five different locations along the river course from August, 2014 to January, 2015 for the determination of eleven physico-chemical parameters on monthly basis following standard methods. The results indicate high significance difference (P ˂0.05) in biological oxygen demand, hardness, alkalinity, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate-phosphorus, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and temperature of the sampling months with significance difference in dissolved oxygen. There were no significant differences amongst the sites. Electrical conductivity ranged from mean values of 69.20±3.12µs/cm (January) to 157.80±24.69µs/cm (December), the dissolved oxygen: 3.05±0.22mg/l (November) to 5.12±0.20mg/l (January). Biological Oxygen Demand: 2.83±0.27mg/l (December) to 6.37±0.24mg/l (September). Hardness of water: 23.20±4.45mg/l (December) to 177.60±19.71mg/l (September), Alkalinity: 23.00±2.12mg/l (August) to 48.80±1.66 mg/ml (January). The physico-chemical parameters varied widely during the months and locations of the samples and sampling sites. With the exception of the electrical conductivity the physico-chemical parameter were within the acceptable limits. The river is not fit for direct human consumption but it can be put to other uses. This research should serve as invaluable information to the relevant authority and the scientific world on the necessary steps to take to check-mate the effects of pollution on River Galma.