Seasonal Variations in Physicochemical Parameters of River Gurara around the Fall and Izon Settlement. Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Water samples were collected from River Gurara once monthly for a period of twelve months (June 2004-May 2005). Physico-chemical parameters were carried out on the water samples. The parameters determined were statistically analyzed to reveal the presence or absence of any relationship among this parameters. The parameters monitored showed marked variations between different samples, stations, seasons and sub seasons. The mean value of temperature was (29.09°C), Biological oxygen demand (0.58mg/l), pH (6.72), Chemical oxygen demand (1.96mg/J), total suspended particles (0.01 cm'), Alkalinity (J.22mg/I) show no significant (p<0.05) variations between the stations, seasons and sub seasons, However significant difference (p<0.05) were observed in dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity (19.04ohms/cm) and hardness (0.60mg/f) as regard to the mean value of the stations. The electrical conductivity range (4.4- 80.98pohms/cm) and total hardness range (0.3-0.82mg/l) fall below recommended value. Low Dissolved oxygen and high BOD, COD and low hardness recorded in stations 3, 4, and 5 where human activities are highly concentrated indicated that Izom environ populace have some impact on the quality of river Gurara. Water temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen demand, Chemical Oxygen demand, Total dissolved solids and Alkalinity show significant difference (P>0.05) between wet and dry season means while air temperature, pH, conductivity and hardness showed no significant difference (POL 05) between wet and dry season.