Physiochemical Parameters of River Water Collected from River Bilate and Walacha, Wolaita, Southern Part of Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study was designed to express the “water quality criteria of Rivers Bilate and Walacha” and analyzed for assessment of water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, alkalinity, ammonia, sodium and potassium ions, lead, copper, zinc and nickel for a period of six months starting from February up to August 2018. The physicochemical parameters remained within the safe limits throughout the study period. However, Lead exceeded the limits permissible for drinking water quality parameters. The determined results showed various physical and chemical parameters ranged, temperature (16-21°C), pH (6.905-7.7), electrical conductivity (160--323 mg/l), total dissolved solids (139--222mg/l), dissolved oxygen (6.75 - 8.05mg/l), total hardness (90 - 129mg/l), alkalinity (65.5-80mg/l), ammonia (0.4-1.6 mg/l), sodium ions (10.25-14.15ppm), potassium ions (3.15-3.6ppm), lead (0-0.85ppm), copper (0-0.145ppm),zinc (0.05-1.05ppm) and nickel (0-0.11) are within permissible limits of Compulsory Ethiopian Standard for Pure Water Specification.  It is also concluded that all the physicochemical parameters showed the safe range according to water quality standards of American Public Health Association.

Keywords: Bilate and Walacha Rivers, Physicochemical Parameters, Total Hardness, Electrical Conductivity

DOI: 10.7176/CMR/11-1-01