Physicochemical and Microbiological Parameters of Water from Rivers in Keffi, Central Nigeria

Four water samples were in respective cases collected from river Oadaji, Northern River (NR) designated NR1-NR4 and river Kantou the Southern River (SR) designated SR1-SR4 both of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Main Campus land area, and were analysed for some physicochemical and microbiological parameters using standard methods. The results obtained were compared with Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and WHO standards for drinking and recreational water. The results showed Temperature range 23.50-27.00°C, pH (6.00-6.45), Conductivity (82.95-125.70 μS/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (20.0-58.0 mg/L), Turbidity (36.30-8.95NTU), Dissolved Oxygen (5.50-13.00 mg/L), Biological Oxygen Demand (5.78-8.68mg/L), Chemical Oxygen Demand (85-145 mg/L), Total Hardness (180-520 mg/L), Nitrate (4.40-25.00 mg/L), Chlorides (10.50-31.45 mg/L), Phosphate (0.10-0.51mg/L), Sulphate (3.50-18.61 mg/L). Results of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) analysis for trace metals showed that the metal concentrations were minute in both the Northern and Southern rivers; Lead (0.02±0.011 and 0.03±0.017 mg/L) Copper (0.01±0.003 and 0.01±0.002 mg/L), Zinc (0.06±0.020 and 0.11±0.016mg/L), and Iron (0.16±0.026 and 0.12±0.022 mg/L). Nevertheless, the concentration of lead was above the acceptable limit. There was no statistically significant relationship (P>0.05) between these metals. The analysis of microbiological parameters revealed very high Total Viable Count for all the water samples, ranging between 25 ×104 to 42 ×104cfu/ml, and Most Probable Number index for coliforms to be ≥2400/100 ml, higher than the acceptable limits. Also, E. coli, Salmonella spp, Proteus spp, Bacillus spp, Enterobacter spp,Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas spp were isolated from the samples examined. The usability of water from these rivers for domestic purposes is not recommended, hence proper treatment is needed before they are consumed or put to any reasonable domestic applications.