ABSTRACT

The quality of water is essential for environmental and human health. Water bodies are important parts of the environment and their contamination by various natural and anthropogenic substances is a hazard to both environmental and human health. This study was carried out with the aim of determining the physicochemical properties and nickel content of water and sediment samples which were collected from the Ogba and Ikpoba rivers, both of which flow through parts of Benin City, Edo State. Samples of water and sediments were collected monthly from upstream and downstream locations from November 2021 to January 2022. All physicochemical parameters were assessed following standard procedure and analysis of samples for nickel was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The results of most of the physicochemical analysis of water and sediment samples for Ogba and Ikpoba rivers were within the permissible limits by the World Health Organization (W.H.O). The concentration of nickel in water samples in both rivers ranged from 0.0275 - 0.0633 mg/L and for sediments, from 5.589 - 11.95 mg/kg. Upon comparison, no significant differences were discovered between the results for physicochemical properties and nickel in the samples from both rivers. Most of the parameters fell within safe limits prescribed by the World Health Organization. However, routine monitoring and assessment of both rivers is recommended to ensure that good water quality is maintained.