Water Quality of Some Selected Communities in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The research looked at the water quality in some selected communities in the Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The research was carried out in November of 2021, when stream water was the only major source of domestic water supply. Four major streams were surveyed for water samples. Sample 1 (IdimIkot Offiong, Oboroko Stream), Sample 2 (Idim, Oboroko Stream), Sample 3 (IdimInua-Akpa Stream), and Sample 4 (IdimInua-Akpa Stream) are all from the Oboroko Stream (IdimUsusgode Stream).  The samples were collected in clean plastic bottles and then rinsed with distill water after being treated with a 1:1 nitric acid solution. Physico-chemical heavy metals and bacteriological parameters were among the parameters examined. The investigation was conducted in accordance with the American Public Health Association’s Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th Edition (1995), and the World Health Organization’s Standard for Drinking Water Quality (WHO, 2011). The study’s findings show that all of the samples had PH levels that were lower than the WHO and NSDWQ standards.  The same was true for dissolved oxygen (DO). Total Iron (mg/l), Manganese (mg/l), Nitrate (mg/l), Nickel (mg/l), Chromium (mg/l), Aluminum (mg/l), Feacal coliform, and total coliform all exceeded WHO, NSDWQ, NIS, and STDS standards. All of the other parameters were within the normal range. The statistical test results also show that there is no significant variation in water quality status across the four (4) streams, F (3, 144) = 0.013, P = 0.998. As a result, the null hypothesis, which states that there is no significant difference in water quality status across the four streams, was kept. Water from these streams, on the whole, needs to be treated before it can be consumed.