ABSTRACT

 This research project on the water quality and potability of two streams of Anya (lkwuano) and I hie stream (Umuahia south), was carried out from June to August 2013. All the water used for sampling was collected using plastic containers at various locations at 2-3 metre depths in the sites from the two sample locations. The samples collected were kept in the containers at a low temperature of 4C with ice cubes to avoid changes in concentration of the water samples taken to the laboratory for analysis of biological, chemical, and physical features. Water temperature ("©) was measured in-situ using dry bulb mercury-in-glass thermometer. Transparency (cm) was measured in-situ using Secchi disk. pH was measured in-situ using Hach pH meter(model EC I 0). Total Alkalinity was determined using titrating water sample with HCI and phenolphthalein as indicator. Total hardness (mg/l) was measured using complexometric method. Phosphate (mg/!) was measured using molybdate spectrophotometric method. Nitrate (mg/l) was determined using cadmium reduction method. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was determined using Azide modification method .Dissolved oxygen was also measured in-situ using Hach DO meter (model DO I 75). The numbers of Coliform were estimated using multiple tube fermentation technique. All analysis were in accordance with Eaton and Franson (2005), APHA (1985), WHO (2004), and Fresenius (1988). Physical properties; Transparency (cm). overall (June-August) measurement was 3.38±0.20 in Anya stream and 3.59±0.173 in lhie stream at at-value of -3.87, significant at 1% level. Temperature (c), overall measurement was 26.408±0.220 in Anya stream and 26.485±0.249 in !hie stream at at-value of 0.582 with no significant level. Chemical properties include pH with an overall measurement' of 6.987±0.114 in Anya stream and 7.076±0.117 in lhie stream at a t-value of -5.129,significant at 1% level .Total hardness(mg/l) had an overall measurement of 36.765±0.820 in Anya stream and 34.712±0.786 in lhie stream at a t-value ofl 0.0 18.significant 1% level. DO (mg/I) had an overall measurement of 5.654±0.173 in Anya stream and 5.903±0.154 in [hie stream at a t-value of -5.81 0, significant at 1% level. Total Alkalinity (mg/l), the overall measurement was 77.298±0.862 in Ihie Anya stream and 78.428±0.887 in !hie stream at at-value of -16.321, at significant 1% level. Phosphate (mg/l), the overall meagyrement was 3.048±0.267 in Anya stream and 3.862±0.1 62 in lhie stream at a t-value of J.632 with no level of significant. Nitrate (mg/l), the overall measurement was 4,461±0.238 in Anya stream and 4. 125±40.216 at a tvalue of 7.272, significant at' 1% level. The biological feature (microbial count) had an overall measurement (June-August) of 4,141666667 x 10"=2.548E7 in Anya stream and 3.845333333x 10±2.234E7 in lhie, at a t-value of 2.200, significant at 5% level. Microbial analysis revealed the presence of micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella ryphi, Vibro spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Basillus subbis and Proteus spp. The concentrations of physicochemical properties were observed to be higher in lhie stream than in Anya stream with mean value of 7.686±2.591 and 17.576±2.608 respectively. The presence of micro-organism was observed to be higher in Anya stream than lhie stream. These should be an effective health education programme for the communities to enlighten them on the effect of drinking contaminated water for human health.