Water Pollution Assessment of Selected Valuable Rivers in Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State

Pollution in relation to river water is the term used to express the level of contamination and the suitability of such river water to sustain various usage. In many developing countries, the main issue, however, is not the physical scarcity of water but poor management which results in the continuous deterioration of water quality. This study conducted an onsite measurement of seasonal stream flow and quality variation of major valuable streams use for non-potable domestic purposes in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti state. Stream flow data was obtained using volumetric method and the quality analysis was carried out in accordance with Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater. The result shows that the average stream flow ranges from 0.120 m3/s to 1.04 m3/s. The physicochemical parameters measured fall short of the national and international standards, which indicates that the water is not fit for human consumption. It was also observed that the self-cleansing of the studied rivers is sufficient to meet the quality requirement for non-potable domestic use. It is recommended that all human activities that could lead to further pollution should be avoided around the river catchment while period public enlightenment should be carried out to sensitize the community on the best hygienic practice within the river catchment to promote good water quality. Keywords: Water quality, water pollution, stream flow, water management