




































Asian Review of Environmental 

and Earth Sciences 
ISSN: 2313-8173 
Vol. 1, No. 2, 30-34, 2014 

http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AREES 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

30 

 

Water Quality Assessment of Kampani River, Plateau State, 

Nigeria 
 

R. A. Lawal
1
 --- Y. N. Lohdip

2
 --- J. N. Egila

3
 

 
1,2,3

Department of Chemistry, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 

 

Abstract 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

1. Introduction 
The increasing concentration of heavy metal in the biosphere is of great concern to the scientist all over to world. 

Heavy metals are found naturally and thus cannot be destroyed in soils, sediment or water by any chemical or 

biological means. They pose major environmental and human health problem due to their great ecological 

significance, toxicity and accumulative behavior [1, 2]. Heavy metals such as Lead, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, 

Arsenic, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Mercury, Chromium, cyanide, Bismuth, Antimony are considered as conservative 

pollutants [3] and thus are disastrous to human health. Other sources of heavy metal contamination are through 

atmospheric deposition and erosion of geological matrix, and through anthropogenic means by industrial effluent 

discharges from tanneries, breweries, textiles, potteries, electroplating, metal finishing, mining, dyeing, printing, 

ceramic, photographic industries as well as smelting, fossil fuel combustion and from agrochemical industries [4, 5] 

[6]. Their poisonous nature makes them the leading cause of death and diseases and accounts for the death of more 

than 14,000 people daily [7, 8]. The most recent in Nigeria, is the Zamfara lead poisoning that led to the dead of over 

400 children in 2010 [9]. Heavy metals are known to cause diseases such as convulsion in small children, lung 

cancer, liver cancer, kidney disease, brain damage, respiratory tract infection, and poor vision among others [10, 11]. 
Mining, as one of the major anthropogenic sources of heavy metal in water [5, 12]  has received so much 

attention due to its great health implication which is easily transferred through food chain. The greater damage of 

mining activity is witnessed in the localities as the case in Wase L.G.A., where tribute workers engaged in the 

manual as well as modern mining of minerals which could lead to indiscriminate disposal of some toxic substances 

such as heavy metals on land and in the aquatic system. This is hazardous since majority of the miners are ignorant 

of the consequences. The harmful effect of mining activity can only be known by measuring the concentration and 

distribution of heavy metals as well as other contaminants in water.  

A lot of work on environmental monitoring has been reported in the southern and eastern part of Nigeria. 

However there is little information regarding the quality of water in the middle belt, particularly in the South eastern 

part of the Plateau State. This work aimed at assessing the levels of heavy metal pollution in water due to mining 

activity in Kampani River. This will go a long way in protecting the lives of people and animals particularly those 

exposed to the dangerous effect of this activity.  

2.1. Study Area 
 Kampani River is situated in Wase Local Government Area, South Eastern Part of Plateau State, Nigeria. It is 

about 292.8Km from the State Capital. This River empties into River Benue, one of the major Rivers in Nigeria. 

The paper assessed the physico-chemical and heavy metal levels of surface water collected from Kampani 

River, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. The analysis was done using standard procedures. 

The mean annual concentrations of the metals studied ranged from 0.32- 0.45mg/l for Cr; 0.11- 0.27mg/l 

for Cu; 0.33 – 0.45mg/l for Co; 0.05 – 0.91mg/l for Cd; 14.96 – 20.68mg/l for Fe; 1.01 – 5.30mg/l for 

Mn; 0.09 – 0.22mg/l for Ni; 0.80 – 1.68mg/l for Pb and 1.15–1.63mg/l for Zn. The Physico-chemical 

analysis revealed the following range of values 7.45 – 7.49 for pH; 27.86 – 103 µs/cm for Electrical 

conductivity; 18.82 – 20.76 NTU for turbidity; Total hardness,109.51 – 291.68mg/l;  Alkalinity, 0.08 – 

28.33mg/l;  Chloride, 11.32 – 43.43mg/l and TDS,74.21 – 152.59mg/l. Most of the metals analysed 

showed significantly higher concentrations which follow the order Fe>Zn>Mn>Cd>Pb>Co>Cr>Cu>Ni 

during the dry season and Fe> Mn> Pb >Zn>Cr>Co>Cu>Ni >Cd in the wet season. Comparing with 

WHO , NIS and SON standards guidelines, the results revealed that the consumption of water from River 

Kampani could be disastrous to human health. 
 

     Keywords: Heavy Metal, Pollution, Assessment, Kampani river, Mining, Plateau state. 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


 

Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 30-34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 

 

    

 
 

Fig-1. Map of Nigeria showing the Plateau State  

 

 
Fig-2.  Map of Plateau State showing the Wase L.G.A. 

 

2.2. Sample Collection  
 Sampling was done during dry season between the month of March – April 2012 and September – October 2012 

in the wet season. Samples were collected at five different points within a particular sampling station and at 1 km 

intervals between the sampling stations and along the plain of the River. Grab samples were collected in a 2L plastic 

container which were prewashed with detergent, then with Nitric acid solutions, rinsed with distilled water and 

finally with the water source. The samples collected were preserved at 4
O
C before the analysis. Those for heavy 

metal determination were preserved by adding three drops of Nitric acid at the field [13, 14]. 

 

3. Experimental 
 The water temperature was measured on site with a glass mercury thermometer. The conductivity was 

determined using a Hanna Potable conductivity metre. and pH was measured with digital pH metre. Colour 



 

Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 30-34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 

 

determination was done using Lovibond comparator while turbidity was analysed by absorbance method [10]. 

Alkalinity, Total Hardness and Chloride were determined by titrimetric method. Total dissolved solid was done by 

Gravimetric method while metallic elements were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method.

  

4. Results and Discussion  
 Tables 1,2,3,4 and 5 show the results for the physicochemical analysis and metallic elements contents of water 

samples from Kampani River. From Table 1, the mean temperature of the river for dry and wet seasons ranged 

between 24.2 – 26.6oC respectively. The temperature of the water appears to be high in the wet season (26.6oC). 

This reflected the air temperature of the eastern part of the state. The results of the pH measurement revealed that the 

water is slightly alkaline in both seasons 7.47 – 7.45.This may be due the presence of carbonates of Calcium and 

Magnesium [15]. The electrical conductivity values were low 27.86 – 103.0 µs/cm and were all within the WHO and 

SON standards [16]. The mean concentrations of Chlorides in the water were in the range 11.3 – 43.4 mg/l with high 

values in the wet season. This can be attributed to the effect of rainfall on rocks. The results of the total hardness 

showed that the wet season values 291.687mg/l were higher than that obtained in the dry season, 109.51mg/l. This 

could be due to runoff which washes away the mine wastes and rocks and deposit into the river. The alkalinity value 

of the water was higher than that obtained in the dry season while TDS showed high values only in the wet season 

and were all within the Standard limit .The high value of TDS could be due to the effect of rain and other dissolve 

salts in the River [17] . The river water was highly turbid with the annual mean concentration between 18.8mg/l – 

20.8mg/l. This is above the standard set by WHO, SON and NIS (Table 3). Chlorides values were observed to be in 

the range of 11.3 – 43.4mg/l with higher concentrations observed in the wet season. Heavy metals analysis showed 

high values of Chromium 0.32 – 0.48mg/l; Cadmium 0.05 – 0.9 mg/l and Iron 14.96 – 20.20.68mg/l. The values of 

Manganese ranged between 1.01 – 5.3mg/l; Nickel 0.09 – 0.22 mg/l and Lead 0.8 – 1.68mg/l. The highest values of 

Chromium, Cobalt, Iron and Lead were found in the wet season while that of Copper, Cadmium and Zinc showed 

high concentrations in the dry season (Table 2 and 3). All the metals examined were above the acceptable limits set 

by WHO for drinking water except for Copper and Zinc which were low. The concentrations of heavy metals in the 

water during the dry season was in the order Fe>Zn>Mn>Cd>Pb>Co>Cr>Cu>Ni and Fe>Mn>Pb 

>Zn>Cr>Co>Cu>Ni >Cd in the wet season. Table 4 and 5 revealed that there is strong correlation between most of 

the metals which indicate same source. 
Since Kampani is not an industrial area, the high concentrations of these metals can be traced to the mining activity 

going on in the area for decades and the natural deposit of these metals in the earth crust. The use of charger 

batteries, fertilizer application on farm land especially those close to the river, as well the use of pesticides in fishing 

could also be another contributing factor. 

 

4.1. Statistical Analysis 
 The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis such as correlation matrix. The correlation coefficient 

matrix of the parameters determined is presented in Tables 4 and 5. The correlation coefficient of 0.5 was taken as 

significant. 
 

5. Conclusion 
 The examination of water quality parameters in Kampani River revealed that the water contain high level of 

toxic metals such as Chromium, Lead, Cadmium, Manganese, Cobalt and Nickel which are capable of causing 

diseases such as cancer, kidney damage, liver problem, neurological disorder and Hepatitis among others. The values 

exceeded the limit set by WHO, NIS and SON for drinking water. So the River is therefore, said to be polluted. 

Moreover, the River requires urgent attention in order to prevent heavy metal poisoning. 

 
Table-1. Physico-chemical  parameters  of water samples from kampani river 

SAMPLE 

LOCATION 

Temp 

(oC) 

      

pH    

E.C  

(µs/cm)             

Colour 

(Hz) 

Turbidity 

(NTU) 

T.Harness 

(mg/l) 

T.Alkalinity 

(mg/l) 

Chloride 

(mg/l) 

TDS      

(mg/l) 

Dry Season: 

Point 1     

26.oo 

± 0.71 

7.45 

±0.26 

25.00     

±0.00 

6.00 

±0.00 

20.83 

±8.05 

97.50 

±0.50 

29.11 ±1.02 8.74 

±3.25 

37.50 

± 2.21 

Point 2 27.00 

±0.58 

7.44 

±0.12 

30.00 

±0.00 

6.00 

±0.00 

32.70 

±5.15 

113.53 

±2.16 

27.63 ±1.14 13.58 

±3.77 

44.98 

±6.00 

Point 3   26.50 

±0.58 

7.39 

±0.31 

30.00 

±0.00 

6.00 

±0.00 

22.00 

±1.41 

117.33 

±1.16 

28.34 ±1.02 13.03 

±1.96 

44.98h 

±1.61 

Point 4 26.75 

±0.96 

7.18 

±0.11 

26.25 

±1.6 

6.00 

±0.00 

7.53 

±0.74 

109.6 

±3.51 

28.25 ±4.53 9.94 

±4.75 

39.37 

±3.74 

Wet Season: 

Point 1 

24.00   

±0.41 

7.65 ± 

0.06        

118.00 

±4.47 

6.40 

0.00 

43.57 

31.39 

289.64 

±13.02 

.07  

±0.01 

27.69 

±7.92 

176.93 

±6.67 

Point 2 24.00 

±0.00 

785,00 

±0.05 

6.40 

±5.00 

13.00 

±0.00 

287.55 

±0.07 

0.07 ±8.63 54.67 ±0.04 115.48 

±17.04 

 

±14.42 

Point 3 24.00 

±0.00 

7.34 

±0.11 

115.00 

±5.77 

6.4 

±0.00 

11.10 

±1,23 

295.64 

±12.67 

0.09  

±0.01 

51.12 

±12.50 

176.98 

±9.59 

Point 4 24.00 

±0.48 

7.40 

±0.02 

94.00  

± 4.80 

6.4 

±0.00 

7.61 

±1.31 

2 93.88 

±6.50 

0.09 ±0.003 40.23 

±6.31 

140.99 

±7.20 

 
 

 

 

 
 



 

Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 30-34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33 

 

Table-2. Heavy metal content of water samples from kampani river 

SAMPLE ELEMENTS         

LOCATIONS Cr  Cu Co Cd Fe Mn   Ni Pb     Zn       

Dry Season : point 1    0.34 0.11 0.22 2.23 11.06 0.34 0.22 1.01 1.96 

Point 2 0.29 0.14 0.28 0.07 16.40 2.14 0.11    0.52    0.99            

Point 3    0.38 0.11 0.55 0.92 14.12 1.17 0.35     0.59       2.14                

Point 4  0.28 0.73 0.71 0.40 18.26    0.39 0.21    1.10     1.41 

Wet Season: Point 1   0.45 0.14 0.44 0.06 17.70 4.80 0.09       1.52  0.96            

Point 2 0.49 0.10 0.36 0.03 14.86 4.65 0.07      1.45  1.00 

Point 3       0.42 0.08 0.40 0.05 26.11 5.23 0.10       1.31 1.48 

Point 4  0.54 0.10 0.59 0.06 24.07 6.90 0.12       2.44 1.17 

 
Table-3. Seasonal variation of heavy metal content of water from  kampani river 

 
 

Table-4. Correlation coefficient matrix of water sample for dry season  

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(2): 30-34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34 

 

Table-5. Correlation matrix of heavy metals from kampani river for wet season  

 

 

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