An Assessment of the Effect of Seasonal Variation on the Physicochemical Parameters of River Niger around Lokoja, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of seasons on the physicochemical parameters of water from River Niger was investigated. Surface water was collected at five sampling locations on River Niger and parameters such as temperature, 
electrical conductivity, pH, the total dissolved solids were determined in situ while other parameters were determined in the laboratory. Standard methods were used in the determination of physicochemical properties of the water and the values obtained were compared to WHO value. The results from the analysis for the wet and dry seasons respectively for the parameters were temperature: (27.31-28.13, 29.21-30.5 ^oC); pH (6.08-6.85, 6.72-6.99); Total hardness (37.20-40.52, 55.91-59.98 mg/L); Turbidity (24.50-26.00, 18.10-19.95 NTU); Electrical conductivity (12.32-15.42,6.31-8.31µS/cm); Total dissolved Solids (10.52-11.50, 7.15-8.97 mg/L); Dissolved Oxygen (6.30-7.21, 4.93-5.57 mg/L); Chemical Oxygen Demand (11.60-18.61, 3.59-13.13 mg/L); Sulphate (2.10-2.90, 3.20-4.98 mg/L) and Phosphate (0.85-0.98, 0.49-0.69 mg/L). The study ascertained that there are variations of these parameters with the seasons. Apart from turbidity in the wet season, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand in both seasons, all the other parameters were within the WHO acceptable limits. The study therefore indicates that chemical contaminations in the 
water sources are possibly from agricultural and other practices from the communities. Hence, the need for adequate treatment of the water from the river sources before they are put to use.