Analysis of Physicochemical Parameters of Sewage Water used for Irrigation in Bauchi Metropolis - Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical parameters of sewage water used to irrigate vegetable farmlands along one of the major drainage channels in Bauchi metropolis - Nigeria. Sewage water was collected from six different sampling sites. Temperature (23 – 25 ^o C), pH (8.11 – 8.4), electrical conductivity (850 µScm^-1 – 1524 µScm^-1) hardness (210 mg/L – 298 mg/L), alkalinity (63 mgCaCO₃/L – 95.5 mgCaCO₃/L), nitrate-nitrogen (4.72 mg/L - 11.44 mg/L) and phosphate-phosphorus (1.00 mg/L - 2.38 mg/L) were determined in sewage water samples in the study areas. In the control sample, Temperature (30.7 ^o C), pH (7.41), electrical conductivity (320 µScm^-1) hardness (125 mg/dm³), alkalinity (54 mgCaCO₃/ dm³), nitrate-nitrogen( 3.8 mg/ dm³) and phosphate-phosphorus ( 0.10 mg/ dm³) were determined.. All the physicochemical parameters determined were found to be within FAO/WHO standard limit for irrigation water except for electrical conductivity, hardness and nitrate-nitrogen. The high values of these three parameters obtained from the study areas may indicate that the sewage water samples contain more plant nutrients in it than the control area water sample, where these values were all lower than the permissible limits. It may also indicate a higher pollution level compared to the control area.

Keywords: Bauchi metropolis, pollution, physicochemical parameters, sewage water, irrigation.