Physico-chemical analysis of water from some selected automobile repairing area in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria

This study was carried out in 2016 and 2017 to determine the effect of automobile repair wastes on water properties in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria. Four replicate water samples were collected at: A – was the tube well at non – automobile repair site (Control); B – was the tube well at lorry automobile repair site; C – was the tube well at motorcycle automobile repair site; D – was the tube well at car and buses automobile repair site and E – was the tube well at automobile spare parts market. The data obtained was analysed using analysis of variance based on CRD and difference between treatments means were dictated using F-LSD. Water collected were used to determine colour, conductivity, total solid, suspended solid, total dissolved solid, pH, NO3–, Cl–, Ca hardness, Mg hardness, total hardness, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn. These parameters apart from pH (which was lower) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in automobile repair sites than non-automobile repair site. Total solids, Pb, Cu and Zn observed in automobile sites were higher than the recommended standards whereas pH was lower than the recommended standard. Only tube well at lorry automobile repair site had Cd that was higher than the standard. Generally, the parameters studied were higher in the 2nd year of the study when compared to 1st year of the study. Therefore, this study recommends treatment of water from tube wells in automobile repair site before usage in order to prevent health problems associated with usage of such water.