PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMA RESERVOIR, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Some physico-chemical parameters of water in Doma reservoir, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was determined from July, 2012 to June, 2014 from three sampling stations. The physico-chemical parameters of water were determined using La Motte Tracer (pocketester) code: 1766 and La Motte Fresh Water Aquaculture Test Kit (model: AQ-2) code: 3633-03. (State the methods used before the results) The physico-chemical parameters of the water and their respective mean range were; water temperature 27.98-28.24°C, transparency 63.3563.62 cm, pH 7.03-7.05, TDS 26.25-27.08 ppm. electrical conductivity 43.75-45.09 pS~‘, water hardness 18.33-19.16 ppm, while dissolve oxygen (DO) was 6.52-6.79ppm. There were no significant difference (P<0.05) in the values for physico-chemical parameters for the sampling stations, but there were seasonal variation (P<0.05) in the physicochemical parameters of the reservoir. The mean dry season values for water temperature, transparency, salinity, total dissolved substances, conductivity, hardness and dissolved oxygen were significantly higher (P<0.05) than these of the rainy season while the mean rainy season values for depth, ammonia nitrogen, alkalinity? carbon dioxide and chloride were higher than those of dry season. The physicochemical parameters of Doma reservoir is within acceptable range that supports aquatic life, particularly fish.