SOME CHEMICAL CONSTUENTS OF SELECTED WATER SOURCES IN AND AROUND ADDIS ABABA AND AMBO

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Water samples were collected from the following Sources: 1. rawand treated water from Gefersa and Legadadi upstream dams as well as tap water from Addis Ababa, 2. Ambo mineral water,3. two rivers that flow through Addis Ababa and 4. Lake Aba Samuel. The sample collection was carried out at the end of the rainy season (September 1993) except for Ambo mineral water which was obtained in mid-June 1994. Analytic data of seven anions(HCO3-,P- ,Ct, Br, 1,NO3- ,SO42) and nine cations (Na+,K+,Mi+,Ca2+, Fe2+i3+,Zn2+,pb2+Cd2+,Cr6+) were compiled. Samples from all sources revealed the following: 1.the concentration of all ions is far below the toxic level, 2. all ions exist at concentrations of less than 8% of Man's daily requirement except for the sodium concentration (2OOmg/L) of Ambo mineral water .Ambo water and tap water from Addis Ababa are found to be chemically safe. The same can be said about water from Aba Samuel and city rivers although more work is necessary to determine the microbial exposure of animals and irrigations that depend on these sources. [Ethiop. i. Health Dev. 1994;8(2):97-102]