Potability of River Waters in Ijebuode Ogun State, Nigeria: Physİcochemical Properties and Microbial Analysis

Water occupies about 70% of the earth's surface. Although, more than three quarters of the earth's surface is made up of water, only 2.8 percent of the Earth's water is available for human consumption. Rivers therefore provide livelihood for rural populations in many developing countries. This work is therefore carried out to analyze the physicochemical content and microbial analysis of commonly used river waters in Ijebu Ode Ogun state. The grab and composite sampling method was used during sample collection, treatment and preservation. Physicochemical properties were determined using the APHA method. Concentration of metals was determined in atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The Temperature, Color, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Total suspended solids (TSS), (DO), (BOD), (COD), Alkalinity, Total hardness, Nitrate, Sulphate, and Phosphate were also analyzed and compared with the World Health Organization standards. All physicochemical parameters analyzed in the river water samples were not within the recommended standards except for the pH which falls within the standard limit of 6.68-6.86. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values 342.00±34.85 - 405.00±1.44 and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 3.17±0.23 - 4.30±0.20 all generally above WHO permissible limit respectively. These results indicated that the water sources were contaminated and unfit for human consumption. This therefore, calls for appropriate treatment measures before the consumption and domestic uses of these river water by the populace to avoid long term accumulative health problems of these pollutants.