Abstract:
Selamiko dam receives water from different point sources and used for various applications
to the people around selamiko kebelie, Farta district of Amhara region. The purpose of this
study was to assess the irrigation water quality of selamiko dam found in south Gondar,
Ethiopia with respect to selected physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals during dry
and wet seasons of 2021. Samples were collected from the inlet and out let of the dam. From
these two sampling sites, samples were taken at different times and composite samples were
obtained at each site from both seasons. Physico-chemical Parameters such as temperature,
pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were measured in situ.
Whereas water samples were transported to the lab for the determination of the level of
heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICPOES).
Results of the physical parameters during dry and wet seasons were ranged from temperature
(20.60C-23.260C, pH(7.89-8.34), EC(118.9μS/cm-130.8μS/cm), TDS (58.8mg/L-65.4mg/L)
and turbidity (6.57NTU-11.13NTU). Concentrations of heavy metals in mg/L ranged from Cr
(0.008-0.323), Mn(0.032-0.285), Ni(0.014-0.212), Zn(0.091-0.184), Cd(0.005-0.01) and Pb
(0.014-0.249). According to the result, the mean concentration of heavy metals in dry season
was higher than wet season except for lead. In this study, most of heavy metals in dry season
were beyond the level of FAO for irrigation purposes. High levels of these metals may
negatively affect the land to be used for irrigation. Therefore, the water has to be approved
with appropriate treatment to come up with the standard and in turn increase the yield of the
irrigation products.