ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN LAKE ALAU OF BORNO, NORTH-EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The physico-chemical parameters of Lake Alau were monitored for four months to assess the water quality. Parameters such as temperature, transparency, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, Ca, P, etc. were studied in five stations (A, B, C, D and E). Water samples went collected monthly from 8: 00 to 12:00noon, for four months (July - October 2008, wet season) and analysed. The physico-chemical parameters were within the ranges of unpolluted water bodies. Variation occurs in almost all the months of the study. Significant difference (P<0.05) occurred in pH, transparency and Ca among the stations, and insignificant difference (P<0.05) in temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, Mg and P. These variations may be due to effects of fertilizer application, herbicides and insecticides in irrigated farms around the Lake.