www.iaset.us editor@iaset.us ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER FROM LAKE CHAMO BELAY TAFA OBA Department of Chemistry, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia ABSTRACT Water collected from Lake Chamo was examined and its physicochemical properties were studied. This study was conducted between July 2014 and April 2015. This period covered four succeeding seasons. October and April were considered as the rainy season, whereas July and January were considered as the dry season. Water samples were collected from the lake from three random sites for every season. Totally, collections were made four times, one for every season. The collected water samples were subjected to physicochemical analyses to check its properties such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total alkalinity (TA), and total hardness (TH). In addition, levels of certain ions such as chloride (Cl - ), nitrite (NO 2 - ), nitrate (NO 3 - ), phosphate (PO 4 3- ) and sulphate (SO 4 2- ) were also quantified. Physicochemical properties varied with every season. High salinity was reported from the waters of the lake. This could be the cause for the deteriorating environmental conditions in the lake, as well as the reduction in fish production. The quantity of nitrite ions was also several-fold higher than the admissible limits. To conclude, the waters of Lake Chamo did not show much variation in its physicochemical properties for different seasons, except in its salinity and nitrite levels. KEYWORDS: Lake Chamo, Water Quality, Physicochemical Properties INTRODUCTION Background and Basis for the Study In comparison to other water bodies, lakes are polluted easily as a result of misuse, because lakes are capable of eliminating the pollutants relatively slowly. Even in the absence of pollution, eutrophication occurs. This is an aging process that gradually leads to the piling up of sediment and organic matter, which modify the basic features of the lake such as depth, biological productivity, oxygen levels, and water clarity (20). Lake Chamo is beneath the Abaya–Chamo drainage basin, which is a sub-basin of the rift valley that crosses across Ethiopia midway in the north–south direction. Two lower lying lakes are the prominent features of the basin. Waters from two rivers, Kulfo and Sile, drain in to Lake Chamo. In turn, the overflow from Lake Chamo drains in to the Sagan River, which finally drains in to the Chew Bahir. Therefore, Sile, Argoba, Wezeka, and Segoare considered as the rivers that drain in to Lake Chamo. Apart from these rivers, the overflow from Lake Abaya confluences with river Kulfo, which ultimately drains in to Lake Chamo. Geographic data show the existence of a hydrological interconnection between the Abaya and Chamo lakes. This has been proved by the overflow from Lake Abaya, which flows in to Kulfo River, eventually ending up in Lake Chamo. Both lakes are located in different levels, and the difference between the two levels is 62 meters. Abaya lakeis located at a higher altitude than Chamo Lake. These lakes serve as a means for transport (Lake Abaya), fishery (Lake Chamo) and tourism. In addition, these lakes, alongwith its tributaries (rivers Bilate, Kulfo, etc.), help to irrigate the agricultural lands in the neighborhood. (1) International Journal of Applied and Natural Sciences (IJANS) ISSN(P): 2319-4014; ISSN(E): 2319-4022 Vol. 6, Issue 1, Dec – Jan 2017; 69-76 © IASET