Effects of Seasonal Variation on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Iyifeyi Stream in Ugwobi Abbi, Enugu State Nigeria

Water is the most abundant of all known chemical substances, which occur naturally on the surface of the earth. Iyifeyi stream is the major source of drinking water for the inhabitants of Ugwobi Abbi in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The stream shows significant reduction in volume during the dry season but increases in volume during the rainy season, therefore, studies were conducted on it to determine the effects of seasonal variation on the physicochemical characteristics, with a view to determining its suitability for drinking. Samples were collected in triplicates upstream, midstream and downstream during the dry and wet seasons and analyzed physicochemically using the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. The results showed that the colour, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total acidity, total hardness, total chloride, sulphate, nitrate, nitrite, biological oxygen demand, iron and aluminum were within the WHO standard for drinking water quality during both seasons while the pH, chemical oxygen demand and lead levels were not. This indicated that the water from the stream is unfit for drinking without adequate treatment. Liming, filtration, boiling and ozonation are recommended.