Physicochemical and Microbial Analysis of Water from Mimyak River in Kanke LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The physico-chemical and microbial analysis of surface water from Mimyak river were carried out to determine its suitability for domestic consumption. Analysis was done using standard methods. The average results of physicochemical parameters are: pH(7.03 ± 0.17, 5.23 ± 0.17), turbidity (3.75± 0.79, 5.75 NUT), TDS (0.17 ± 0.07, 0.57 ± 0.03mg/I), conductivity (94.50 ± 8.23, 142.75 ± 53.82µs/cm). Total alkalinity (44.50 ± 6.23, 106.75 ± 27.81mg/I),Total hardness (55.75 ± 6.87, 60.50 ± 21.90mg/I), sulphate (18.52 ± 4.60, 18.38 ± 4.53mg/I), phospate (37.00 ± 9.23,2.64 ± 0.90 mg/I), and chloride (7.090 ± 0.00, 7.090 ± 0.00mg/I) during rainy and dry seasons respectively. All the metallic elements analyzed are within the WHO standard limits with the exception of trace metals such as Pb (0.014 ± 0.001, 0.010 ± 0.005mg/I). As (0.010 ± 0.005, 0.020 ± 0.007mg/I), Cd (0.01 ± 0.005, 0.04 ± 0.011mg/I), Cr (0.06 ± 0.022, 0.030 ± 0.010mg/I) which are high. Also, the microbial analysis revealed the presence of Salmonella and Shigella, staphylocococi aureus and proteus with E. coli, and pseudomonas species found ony in some of the samples and and thus the water cannot be used as potable source of water.