Composition and Dynamics of Some Nutrient and Physic-Chemical Parameter in Lower Course of Gwagwalada River in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Aims: Jabi dam, Lower Usuma dam and Gwagwalada river in the Federal Capital Territory were studied for a period of twelve months (January 2007–December 2007) to determine their nutrient composition and dynamics.
Methodology: Samples were collected from these water bodies on monthly basis. The concentration of some nutrient parameters such as Phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO4-N), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) were assessed. The results obtained were statistically analysed to show any relationship amongst them.
Results: The mean values for NO4-N, Ca and K were not significantly different (P>0.05) between the three water bodies. While the mean value for PO4-P were significantly different (P<0.05), with Jabi dam having the highest mean value of 11.61mg/l, followed by Gwagwalada river, 9.96mg/l and Lower Usuma dam had least mean value of 2.46mg/l. Jabi dam, Lower Usuma dam and Gwagwalada river had mean TDS of 95.0mg/l, 88.5mg/l and 104.5mg/l respectively, Gwagwalada river being significantly different (P<0.05) from Jabi and Lower Usuma dams. Similarly, Jabi dam, Lower Usuma dam and Gwagwalada river had mean Sodium values of 2.42mg/l, 2.85mg/l and 3.73mg/l respectively, Gwagwalada river being also significantly different (P<0.05) from Jabi and Lower Usuma dams. PO4-P and NO4-N showed no significant (P>0.05) monthly variations in the three water bodies. However, TDS, Ca, K, and Na showed significant (P<0.05) difference in monthly variations in the three water bodies. TDS, Ca, K, and Na had all their wet season mean values higher than their dry season mean values in all the three water bodies studied, while PO4-P and NO4-N had their wet season mean values lower than the dry season mean values in the three water bodies.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the nutrient parameters measured were slightly lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended values for aquatic life.