Physico- chemical analysis and detrmination of the level of selected heavy metals in kolati river, jimma zone

Abstract

Water is the most abundant source that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. But water pollution, particularly river water pollution problems mainly emanated from agricultural activities, municipal wastes and industrial wastes that can affect human being and domestic uses. The present study focuses on the analysis of Physicochemical characteristics like Temperature, PH, E.C, TDS, Salinity, turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulphate, fluoride and heavy metal levels such as Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co and Cr in water sample from kolati river systems at different site. Temperature, E.C, TDS and salinity were measured on site by thermometer and conductivity meter. The nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulphate and fluoride were determined by photometer. But the level of selective heavy metals was analyzed by FAAS. The range of all of the physicochemical parameter analyzed were: Temperature (17.46-18.43 0 C), pH (8.03-8.45), EC (3409-9222.39µs/cm), TDS (1707-4607.06mg/L), Turbidity (111.44-234.4 NTU), Salinity (2007-6052.3mg/L), PO 4 3-(0.82-1.62mg/L), NO3 -(5.06-14.53mg/L), NO 2 -(0.81-0.966 mg/L, F -(0.89-0.96 mg/L), SO 4 2-(6.27-10.68 mg/L), Pb (0.07-0.12), Cu (0.042-0.056), Zn (0.037-0.113), Co (0.07-0.145) Cr (0.039-0.049) in mg/L. And the water sample taken from Kolati river at the site 4 recorded high value of all parameter since the site is influent discharge point. One-way ANOVA test(p≤0.05) showed that all measured values vary significantly across location. However, the result indicates that most of physio chemical parameter from Kolati river water system was within the WHO and ESA limit for drinking water standard. But TDS, Turbidity, salinity, E.C and Pb exceeded both WHO and ESA drinking water standard. This could be due to waste discharge flow farm nearby, municipal waste from the town, pesticides, Domestic waste, car wash, chemical from irrigation, waste from toilet. This study, therefore, recommended the government and other responsible authorities to take appropriate corrective measures.