Assessment of water quality of lake Hyqe, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Abstract

The physical and chemical properties of water bodies are characteristics of climate, geochemical, geomorphological and pollution conditions (largely) prevailing in the drainage basin and the underlying aquifer. The availability of good water is an understandable feature for preventing disease and improves quality of life. The present study investigation of the water quality Lake Haque has been carried out. To assess the status water samples were collected in monthly intervals for the period of one year. Depending on seasonal variations the intervals are divided accordingly into dry period (January to April) and wet season (July to October). Various physio- chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, ammonia, phosphate etc. with some bacteriological analysis have been assessed and the results are compared with the standards given by WHO except turbidity and total coliforms. The samples were collected from three different sites of the lake i.e. Littoral, Pelagic and Monastery. The data reveals no significant changes in pH and temperature at any sites during both seasons but the turbidity is found to be more in dry season than wet season. However the coliforms numbers were TNTC (too numerous to count) near lake edges. The significant changes are observed in other parameters like nitrate, ammonia and phosphates with respect to seasonal intervals.