Assessment of Physiochemical Properties of Lakpah Stream, for Domestic use in Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Streams can be utilized for beneficial purposes such as domestic, recreation and irrigation especially in this era of endemic water scarcity. This study assessed the physiochemical properties of Lakpah stream for domestic use in Nasarawa Eggon. A total of six (6) water samples were collected from the stream. The water samples were collected mostly for upper, mid and lower stream on which the water is perennial and offer ample opportunity for a variety of uses such as irrigation and domestic. The water samples were taken for laboratory analyses for properties affecting the use of water for domestic purposes. Properties of water such as; temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids chlorides, nitrates, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese and lead were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques. Results from this study showed the means concentration of the properties of water was high for most of the variables. Temperature was 25.5⁰c, pH 8.48, total dissolved solids 1324 mg/l, turbidity 20.8 NTU, iron 3.2 mg/l and zinc 0.1mg/l. The spatial distribution of the variables showed that pH was between 7.32 and 10.2, CaCO₃ 125 and 382 mg/l, TDS 400 to 2004 mg/l, phosphates 0.4 to 0.8 mg/l, turbidity 5 to 44Ntu and iron 1.18 to 5.7 mg/l. Analysis of variance carried out showed that there was significant difference in the distribution of the properties within the stream. The evaluation of the suitability of the water for domestic use showed mean concentrations of variables such as pH 8.48, total dissolved solids 1324 mg/l, calcium carbonate 20.8 mg/l, iron 3.2 mg/l and magnesium 7.9 mg/l were all above the highest desirable limit considered for domestic water by WHO (2012).  Results therefore show that water from the stream objectionable for domestic use within the study area. The study therefore recommends that the people around the stream should be cautious in the use of water for domestic purpose especially when treatment is not done; water from the stream should be evaluated for other uses that require less stringent water quality such as recreation and irrigation and monitoring.