Abstract
SEASONAL VARIATION IN PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DOMA AND IBUWAN DAMS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Seasonal variation in the distribution of physicochemical parameters of water was carried out from different dams ( Doma and Ibuwan) located in Nasarawa State. Water samples were collected for two years (four seasons). In the first year, water samples were collected from May to September,2014 and November-December,2014 to March,2015 for wet and dry seasons. While for the second year, water samples were collected from May to September, 2015 and NovemberDecember,2015 to March,2016 for wet and dry seasons. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD were physicochemical parameters determined using standard methods prescribed by APHA. In the wet season of the first year,the mean values recorded were 27.850C , 6.81, 83.20m/s, 49.95 mg/L , 1.38 mg/L , 24.41NTU, 0.03 mg/L , 29.50 mg/L , 0.17 mg/L , 2.70 mg/L , 0.007 mg/L , 1.76 mg/L , 11.85 mg/L and 196.20 mg/L for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD respectively. While in the dry season, the mean values recorded were 28.530C, 6.93, 106.46m/s, 62.30 mg/L , 0.22 mg/L , 34.89NTU, 0.36 mg/L , 14.60 mg/L , 0.05 mg/L , 1.44 mg/L , 0.69 mg/L , 1.70 mg/L , 7.28 mg/L and 171 mg/L for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD respectively. In the wet season of the second year, the mean values recorded were 27.740C , 7.13, 82.82m/s, 44.61 mg/L , 1.81 mg/L , 63.16 NTU, 1.09 mg/L , 14.11 mg/L , 4.88 mg/L , 6.07 mg/L , 1.83 mg/L , 1.66 mg/L , 6.75 mg/L and 175.50 mg/L for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD respectively. While in the dry season, the mean values recorded were 29.230C, 7.20, 92.27m/s, 46.18 mg/L , 1.24 mg/L , 37.93NTU, 3.38 mg/L , 31.55 mg/L , 8.73 mg/L , 3.87 mg/L , 1.11 mg/L , 1.77 mg/L , 7.42 mg/L and 184 mg/L for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD respectively. The results revealed that the condition of these dams in different seasons showed variations in the physicochemical parameters. The results also showed that some physicochemical parameters determined exceeded the WHO standard limit for drinking purpose while other parameters were within the WHO acceptable standard. Based on these results, these dams are polluted. However, the usability of such water for domestic purposes is not recommended. Such water in these dams must be treated before they are put to any domestic application