Physico – Chemical Water Quality Analyses of Lake Alau, North – Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted on the physico – chemical water quality analyses of Lake Alau, North – eastern Nigeria. Water was sampled biweekly for the period of seven months from five sampling stations. The physico – chemical qualities were determined using the methods described by APHA, (1985) and Boyd (1990). The mean values of the physico – chemical parameters of water qualities analysed are 23.04°C, 56.21 cm, 7.8, 6.41 mg / l, 0.68, 0.034 mg / l, 0.07 mg / l, 39.46 mg / l and 56.28 mg / l for temperature, turbidity, pH, DO, BOD, Nitrite, NH 3 , alkalinity and total hardness of Lake Alau. The results indicated that, there are no variations between the five stations, except ammonia and nitrate which exhibited significant variations. The water quality parameters were within the range recommended for aquatic life; fish production and domestic use. The physico – chemical parameters were within the observed ranges in unpolluted water bodies and also were found to be within tolerable limit for high yield for aquatic life; fish production and domestic use. It provided vital information on about some of the quality status of Lake Alau, and its suitability for fish production and uses. Any variation, weather seasonal or spatial in physical and chemical characteristic of the Lake has being influence by climatic regime and catchment characteristic, i.e. extent of human activities and water volume fluctuations. Farmers bordering the Lake, dispose both their organic and inorganic wastes in to the Lake directly or indirectly. It is recommended that the relevant stakeholder charged with management of the Lake should carry out a sensitization campaign to educate the people on the danger associated with loading of the Lake with waste (toxic), from washing disinfectant or herbicides spraying machine in the Lake Alau.