Physico-chemical properties and heavy metal content of water sources in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

The water quality examination in Ife–North Local Government of Osun State Nigeria was conducted by determining the physico–chemical parameters of 40 samples. Surface water, bore holes, wells and pipe borne water samples were collected from major towns in the Local Government Area and analyzed. Results showed temperature range of 26.5 to 33.0°C, pH (6.53 to 8.90), conductivity (63.0 to 1039.0 μS/cm), resistivity (0.00 to 0.02mΩ.cm), salinity (300.00 to 700.00 mg/L), total solids (90.00 to 1175.00 mg/L), total dissolved solids (37.80–622.50mg/l), suspended solids (34.50 to 794.00 mg/L),dissolved oxygen (4.48 to 9.48 mg/L), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD 5 ) (0.69 to 6.74 mg/L), chloride (3.64 to 184.04mg/L), Nitrate (1.08 to 53.03 mg/L), phosphate (4.99 to 23.07 mg/L) and sulphate (6.02 to 28.95 mg/L). Results of Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric analysis (AAS) of samples for dissolved trace metals; (Cd, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe), showed mean metal concentration to vary widely depending on the source of the water sample as follows: Pb (0.29 ± 0.05 to 6.69 ± 0.53 mg/L), Cd (0.77 ± 0.06 to 2.24 ± 0.08 mg/L), Zn (0.03 ± 2.15 to 0.22 ± 4.64 mg/L), Cu ( 0.18 ± 16.34 to 0.41 ± 5.00 mg/L), Fe (6.00 ± 0.21 to 31.75 ± 0.80mg/L) and Mn (0.14 ± 6.12 to 0.23 ± 99.11 mg/L). The results obtained for the physical parameters agreed with the limits set by both national and international bodies for drinking and domestic water with few exceptions. Key words: Quality, physico-chemical, atomic-absorption-spectrophotometer, domestic, recreational, Ife-North-Local-Government.