Investigation of some physico-chemical parameters and determination of heavy metals in selected water samples from Itaogbolu area of Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Water samples from selected hand-dug wells and Ona-river in Itaogbolu area of Akure North Local Government, Ondo State Nigeria were collected and physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals were determined using standard analytical procedure. For the physico-chemical analysis the results were obtained as follows: H-P gave the range (6.59-7.68), temperature was found between 21.1 to 27.1 degrees C and conductivity gave the range 300 to 1150 mu Omega. The chloride content of all the water samples was found between 78.1 to 1175mg/l, total hardness gave range 128to298 mg/l, the highest was found in Oda river. Suphate level was also the highest in Ona River, which was found in the range 60 to 97 mg/l, Total Dissolved gave range 0.02 to 0.09 mg/l and alkalinity gave range 0.9to2.45mg/. Cadmium was not detected at all in all the water samples, Zinc and iron were found in the ranges 0.7 to 5.5 and 0.1 to 5.3mg/l respectively. While chromium, lead and copper were found between 0.1 to o.4, 0.1 to 0.2 and 0.1 to 0.4 mg/l respectively. Nickel was only detected in Ona river. These results were said to have agreed with the limits set by World Health Organization for drinking water.