Journal of Basic and Applied Research International

An assessment of the quality of the Oda River for drinking and other domestic purposes were conducted by determining the levels of some physico-chemical parameters in the river sample and some samples of its tributaries. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used for the detection of the heavy metals whilst Ion Chromatography was used to analyze the anions.  The results of microbial analysis indicated counts well beyond the WHO limit of zero. pH and nitrite were within the WHO’s permissible limit. Calcium, lead, iron and copper were above whilst the rest of the anions, conductivity, TDS, alkalinity, magnesium, total, Total hardness, cadmium and chromium were below the WHO’s permissible limit. The values for the other sampling sites fluctuated due to the different anthropogenic activities along the tributaries. The health-risk assessment revealed that the hazard quotient (HQ_ing) and hazard index (HI_ing) values were near to the acceptable limit, indicating non-carcinogenic risk to the recipient through oral intake of water from the lake for both children and adults. The calculated values for chronic daily intake (CDI) were found to be in the order of 1.93 x 10^-3 to 6.18 x 10¹. The carcinogenic risk assessment (CR_ing) through ingestion route for Cd gave an upper limit higher than the acceptable limit (10^-6) for both adults and children. Multivariate statistical analysis such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that natural processes and anthropogenic activities were the main sources of water contamination. The results therefore indicate unsuitability of the river for drinking and other domestic activities since it may pose serious health problems for the consumers.