Determination of Water Quality Index and Suitability of Three Major Dams in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water Quality of Egbe, Ureje and Ero dams in Ekiti State was studied for a period of one year from November 2017 to October 2018. Twenty-four physicochemical parameters (temperature, conductivity, turbidity, pH, DO 2 , BOD, COD, alkalinity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, hardness, colour, phosphates, nitrates, nitrite, Cu, Pb, Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Na, Ca and Zn) were considered in the computation of Water Quality Index (WQI) based on Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index Method. ANOVA was used to evaluate the significant differences between water quality variables at the dams. T-test was used to show the variations of physico-chemical parameters and WQI between the two seasons. WQI in Egbe dam ranges from 118.00-164.67 (dry season) with a seasonal value of 145.69 and from 89.39-161.86 (rainy season) with a seasonal value of 120.59. In Ureje dam, WQI ranges from 101.88-164.76 (dry season) with seasonal value of 134.08 and from 96.61-138.36 (rainy season) with a seasonal value of 123.39 while in Ero, WQI ranges from 32.28-45.13 (dry season) with a seasonal value of 39.43 and from 52.12-106.22 (rainy season) with a seasonal value of 81.84. WQI of Egbe dam and Ureje dam during the dry and rainy seasons indicated poor water quality that is unfit for drinking while in Ero dam, the WQI during the dry season indicated good quality water while during the rainy season, the water in the dam was polluted. Our findings highlighted the deterioration of the dams due to anthropogenic activities and urbanization. There is an urgent need for proper management measures and suitable tools to restore the water quality of these dams. The formulas used to calculate the WQIs are easy to use thus providing a valuable tool for the accurate monitoring of water pollution in water bodies.

Prevalence, intensity and influence of size and seasons on parasites of Oreochromis niloticus in Ekiti State Dams, Southwest, Nigeria

“…Thus, this supports the assertion that increase parasitism in aquatic biota especially fish may be promoted by pollutants (Oros and Hanzelova, 2009). The different in parasites number and genera observed in the fish from the three dams might be due to the differences in physico-chemical parameters expressed in water quality indices in the dams (Olagbemide and Owolabi, 2019).…”

Assessment of Metal Contamination in Oreochromis niloticus from Ekiti State’s Major Dams, Southwest, Nigeria and its Human Health Implications

“…Cadmium and lead, according to the carcinogenic human health assessment, show no evidence of a negative impact on either adults' or children's health when consumed with their concentrations, water quality and parasitic activities which differ among the dams (Olagbemide and Owolabi, 2019;Olagbemide and Owolabi, 2022). However, the variations in the levels of metals in the tissues of fish in aquatic environments were attributed to the proximity of the tissues to metals, the concentration of the metals in the media, the age of the fish, the presence of molecules that have an affinity for metals in the fish, and the roles of the tissues in detoxification in the ecosystems (Adhikari et al, 2009) while Weber et al (2013) and Bashir et al (2013) ascribed them to the type of pollutant, fish species, sample location, trophic level, and method of feeding and changes in the physiological functions of each tissue.…”