Bioscience Methods 2018, Vol.9, No.1, 1-11
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2.8 Total hardness
The level of total hardness of the water ranged from 22.20-23.30 mg/l, being not significantly different (P>0.05)
apart from Location A (Table 1). Total hardness showed positive significant relationship with calcium at P<0.05.
The total harness concentration of the water were lower than the values reported in Epie creek (52.86-280.00 mg/l)
(Ben-Eledo et al., 2017), Nun River at Amassoma axis (0.90-3.33 mg/l) (Ogamba et al., 2015c), Epie creek
(2.27-5.27 mg/l) (Izonfuo and Bariweni, 2001), Kolo creek (1.03-1.37 mg/l) (Ogamba et al., 2015a). According to
Ben-Eledo et al. (2017), the hardness of the water is an indication of the ability of the water to tolerate high soap
content. The variation in total hardness could be due difference in anthropogenic activities of the area. The total
hardness suggests that the water is not hard and many not waste soap when used for domestic purposes. The
hardness is far lower than the standard specified for drink water by Nigerian drinking water quality agency and
World Health Organization.
2.9 Bicarbonate
The bicarbonate level of the water ranged from 0.97-1.43. Typically, there was no significant variation among the
different locations (Table 1). Bicarbonate showed positive significant correlation with sodium at P<0.01, and
negative relationship with biological oxygen demand at P<0.05 (Table 2). The bicarbonate values are lower than
the values previously reported in some surface water in Bayelsa state including Epie creek (2.18-4.28 mg/l).
According to Ben-Eledo et al. (2017), carbonate in water is associated with dissolved ions concentration in the
water.
2.10 Sulphate
The level of sulphate in the water samples ranged from 1.79-2.53 mg/l, being significantly different (P<0.05)
among the different locations. Sulphate showed positive significant relationship with calcium and magnesium at
P<0.01, and negatively correlate with potassium at P<0.05 (Table 2). Sulphate concentration in this study is lower
than the values previously reported in Epie creek 6.50-14.30 mg/l (Ben-Eledo et al., 2017), Igbedi creek
(6.09-8.83 mg/l) (Seiyaboh et al., 2013b), and within the values reported in Ikoli creek (1.4-3.50 mg/l) (Ogamba et
al., 2015b), Epie creek (1.98-6.27 mg/l) (Izonfuo and Bariweni, 2001), and lower than the values reported in Nun
River at Amassoma axis (0.57-0.87 mg/l) (Ogamba et al., 2015c), Kolo creek (0.1-0.57 mg/l) (Aghoghovwia and
Ohimain, 2014; Ogamba et al., 2015a). Sulphate in the water could be due to anthropogenic activities and runoff
(Ogamba et al., 2015c). The sulphate concentration in this study is lower than the standard specified for drink
water by Nigerian drinking water quality agency and World Health Organization.
2.11 Nitrate
The concentration of nitrate in the water ranged from 0.18-0.35 mg/l, being significantly different (P<0.05) among
the different locations of study. Nitrate showed positive significant relationship with chloride, total hardness,
calcium and sulphate at P<0.01, and negatively correlate with potassium at P<0.05. Variation suggests difference
in anthropogenic activities likely to affect nitrate concentration. The nitrate concentration in this study is lesser
than the values reported in Epie creek 0.63-1.69 mg/l (Ben-Eledo et al., 2017), and had some similarity with the
values previously reported in Nun River (0.12-0.81 mg/l) (Agedah et al., 2015; Ogamba et al., 2015c), Epie creek
(0.02-0.28 mg/l) (Izonfuo and Bariweni, 2001), Kolo creek (0.10-0.24 mg/l) (Aghoghovwia and Ohimain, 2014;
Ogamba et al., 2015a), Tombia bridge construction area (0.32-4.15 mg/l) (Seiyaboh et al., 2013a), Taylor creek
(0.31 mg/l) (Daka et al., 2014), Ikoli creek (0.12-0.26 mg/l) (Ogamba et al., 2015b), Igbedi creek (0.092-0.226
mg/l) (Seiyaboh et al., 2013b). The variation in nitrate concentration is the amount of organic nitrogen (Ogamba et
al., 2015c; Ben-Eledo et al., 2017). Nitrate level in in the water is lesser than the standard specified for drink water
by Nigerian drinking water quality agency and World Health Organization.
2.12 Chloride
The chloride concentration of the water ranged from 11.10-14.33 mg/l. basically, there was significant variation
(P<0.05) among the various locations. Chloride showed positive significant relationship with sulphate,
bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium at P<0.01 and total hardness at P<0.05 (Table 2). Variation in chloride
