Abstract:
In this study, an index method was adopted to grade the water quality of
Agbede Wetlands for a period of 18 months (December, 2012 and May, 2014).
On monthly basis, water samples were obtained from seven designated stations
within the wetlands and analyzed for the classical parameters adopting
standard methods. These parameters which included Water temperature, pH,
electrical conductivity, turbidity , total dissolved solids, total suspended solids,
dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand,
chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, total hydrocarbon content, sodium,
potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, cadmium, iron, lead, chromium,
zinc, nickel and manganese contributed invariably to water quality of Agbede
Wetlands when keyed into Water Quality Index (WQI). The mean WQI values
at stations 1, 2 and 3 were in all cases <30.00, for station 5 and 6, 30< WQI
<50 while for stations 4 and 7, 50< WQI <100. Thus based on the parameters
characterized in this study while adopting Federal Ministry of Environment
standard for surface water, the water quality at stations 1,2,3,5 and 6 were said
to be excellent while those of stations 4 and 7 were good. An attempt to x-ray
the contribution of individual parameter towards the WQI values showed that
the principal parameters were pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and heavy
metals which include copper, lead, zinc, cadmium and nickel. There is need to
ascertain the level of microbial agents, pesticides and herbicides
concentrations in Agbede Wetland as the activities witnessed at the watershed
are likely to influence them.
