ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to know the effect of wastewater (sewage) discharge on the quality water in Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria.

The community discharges wastewater which affect the water quality with most of the wastewater coming from domestic wastewater. Associated with the development of the area, the increase of pollutants into the surface water has been majorly from domestic activities. The study involved sampling of well water from four communities in Ikole LGA of Ekiti State, i.e, Ilotin-Ekiti, Asin-Ekiti, Usin-Ekiti, Ikoyi-Titun Ekiti. Samples were is collected from wells in three different locations in each community.

Four sampling stations were selected .The first was Ilotin Ekiti denoted as A, the second station is Asin Ekiti denoted as B, the third station is Usin Ekiti denoted as C, the fourth station is Ikoyi- Titun Ekiti denoted as D.

The results obtained showed that the values of Turbidity, Electrical conductivity, Salinity, Total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total Hardness, chlorides, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, total bacterial count, total coliform bacteria, Faecal coliform were found to be higher at station 1 and station 4 but easily within the permissible limit of (WHO) at station 2 and station 3. The electrical conductivity values vary from 164- 399pscm-1, the total dissolve solid values varied from 41.968-112.285mg/l. Total suspended solid values ranged from 18.653-49.905mg/l with turbidity value range from 6.995-18.714 NTU. It was found that the well water has values which ranged between 5.9-7.5. The biological oxygen demand values were found to be higher at stations 1 and 4 BOD values ranged from 20.984-56.143. The total hardness ranged between 85.450-228.60mg/l. The chloride value varied from 4.663- 12.476mg/l, the sulphate value ranged between 11.658- 31.190 mg/l. Nitrate values ranged from 2.073-5.54 mg/l and the phosphate values ranged between 0.234-0625 mg/L.

The study result also showed that heavy metals concentration (Zinc and Copper) were 0.397- 1.062 mg/l and 0.099-0.265 mg/l respectively. This study has shown that the highest total bacterial count was recorded at the third station which was 6 CFU/125ml, whereas the lowest value was found at station 2 and 4 which was 2 CFU/125ml. Total coliform bacterial counts ranged from 0 CFU/125ml-3 CFU/125ml, Fecal coliform ranged from 0 CFU/125ml-7 CFU/125ml. these values were above the WHO permissible limit for drinking water, only a well from station 2 and 3 was within the permissible limit from WHO drinking water standard of 0 CFU/125ml.

The significance of the study is to access the current status of well water quality in Ikole-Ekiti and it is hoped that the result of this study will assist the relevant and appropriate preventive measures to ensure that the water is improved.