Abstract
Climate change threatens both animal species and plants, particularly water availability and quality. Southwestern Nigeria, where the Ikere Gorge Dam is located, local water sources is the major source for daily life and agriculture, there is need to ascertain water quality. 20 water samples were collected from different dam locations, each 100–200 meters apart, 25 mL sample was digested with 5 mL of conc. HFl, followed by HNO3 and (HCl), with a dilution ratio of 3:1. The mixture was heated to 100°C for two hours, filtered into a 100 mL cylinder, and 50 mL of distilled water was added. The samples were then analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-EOS). Cadmium: 0.001 to 0.017 mg/L, Chromium: 0.001 to 0.039 mg/L, Lead: 0.006 mg/L. Mercury: 0.020 mg/L, Arsenic: 0.002 mg/L, Nickel: 0.01 to 0.07 mg/L, copper: 0.874 mg/L, Calcium: 107.951 mg/L, Iron: 17.925 mg/L and Potassium: 26.272 mg/L. 80% of the samples were higher the global acceptable limit, 3% within safe limit values, 7% percent were below the recommended value. These findings showed the need for improved water management Nigeria, the need for long-term strategies to address population growth, climate change, and clean water for every nation, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 7.