Assessment of the Contributions of Hydrologic Cycle to the Water Quality Profile

1.0 Introduction

Since the beginning of concern over the possible consequences of global warming, it has been widely recognized that changes in the cycling of waters between land, sea and air could have very significant impacts across many sectors of the economy, society and the environment. The characteristics of many terrestrial ecosystems, for example are heavily influenced by water availability, in the case of aquatic ecosystems, the quantity and quality of water in rivers and aquifers is fundamental to human, aquatic life and many activities. Most obviously agriculture use, industry use, power generation, transportation and waste constraint on economic development. Consequently, there have been a great many studies into the potential effect of climatic change on hydrology (focusing of cycling of water and water quality aspects with its proper analysis and assessment).

The majority of these studies have concentrated on possible changes in the water balance for example, the quality of stream water, impacts of the changes in the gravity of water such as the reliability of a water sources (supply) or the risk of contaminated source. This study focuses on techniques adopted to determine the quality of water, by carrying out chemical text, biological text and physical text on Otammiri River to ascertain its quality and beneficial use of water.

Water and The Hydrologic Cycle

Water begins its never ceasing cycle as vapour in the atmosphere as well as the water in the lakes and oceans, provides protection against extremes of both heat and cold. Hydrologic cycle refers to the complete movement of water from the atmosphere and below the earth surface. It includes water precipitation as rain, snow, hail or dew, it journey over around and through obstacles above on and below the earths surface and its eventual evaporation and return to the atmosphere. It is the longest water purification system known to man.

Water

Water is essential for man's existence, it is needed in large quantities and in all wholesomeness despite the requirements for potable supply, water is needed for power generation, irrigation, recreation, industrial production processes and in waste disposal. The importance of water made it possible for nature to distribute it all over the regions of the earth. The planet earth contains about 70% water in form of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and ground water. Water provided for human consumption should receive minimum possible treatment, though the best supply is one which needs no treatment at all. Public health is vulnerable to the danger of incidence of diseases, mainly through water borne, water related and water washed diseases.

These diseases include cholera, typhoid and para-typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fiver, schistosomosois and guinea worm. Consequent to the incidence of disease, water treatment processes become a preciosity that require careful while handling. For an acceptable quality of water supply the international standard for drinking water established by World Health Organization (2007) states that water intended to human consumption must be free from organisms and from concentration of chemical substances that may be hazardous to health. Supplies of drinking water should be pleasant to drinking as circumstance permit.

The quality of water must be wholesome and palatable. Wholesome water must be free from organisms, poisonous and excessive amount of mineral, turbidity taste, odour, and must be well aerated.

1.2 Background of the Study

This project laid more emphasis on the assessment of the contribution of hydrologic cycle to the water quality of Otammiri River. To understand how contamination of the River occurs, it is necessary to understand the contributions of the hydrologic cycle to the Rivers, the water quality along its profile from the confluence of Otammiri and Nworie River. Water bodies can be fully characterized by the three major components; hydrology, physic-chemistry and biology. Therefore this project describes a complete assessment of water quality based on appropriate monitoring of these components.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The aim of this project is to provide understanding of;

1. The assessment of the contributions of hydrologic cycle to Otammiri River from the broadest perspective.
2. Water quality potentials of Otammiri River
3. Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water
4. Water quality control and management.
5. Water quality in the environment, sources of contamination, effects of common impurities in water and self purification of water.

1.4 Scope of the Study

The scope of this project is the proper assessment of the contribution of hydrologic cycle to Otammiri River which include;

1. Assessment of existing surface water (Otammiri River during rainy season as a case study)
2. Effects of common impurities in water
3. Water quality and characteristics of water
4. Beneficial use of water
5. Study methodology, decision on quality parameters for analysis.
6. Data presentation, calculation and discussion.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

While there is a considerable amount of water quality data collected for the experiment, the timing and frequency of samples does not provide a definite information on the degree which water quality is based. The following was needed to determine the water quality conditions.

1. Three different samples would be collected from difernt reaches of Otammiri River
2. The samples should be taken undisturbed and moved to the laboratory immediately for proper analysis.
3. The presence of the following should be determined; copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, sulphate, phosphate, nitrite, chloride and sulphite.
4. Also, the following should be determined; pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, alkalinity, total hardness, turbidity, total coliform, etc.

1.6 Significance of the Study

1. This project provides an account on how to make hydrologic cycle and water quality fit for human use.
2. The various treatment method of contaminated water
3. It provides information on how the River is being contaminated along the reaches of the river.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

In the course of carrying out this project, some difficulties were encountered which includes;

1. Unavailability of research material like test books
2. Unsteady power supply that delayed the laboratories experiment
3. Difficulties encountered when analyzing different water sample
4. Non availability of equipment needed for water quality analysis.