By: U. U. Egereonu
1Assistant Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
2Research Scholar, Department of Geosciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
3Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
4Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,
5Assistant Lecturer, University Nigeria. of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
6Lecturer, Rhema University Nigeria, Aba, Nigeria.
Physico-chemical investigations were carried out on Oji-river using standard methods to ascertain the
level and sources of pollution. The distribution of pollutants due to anthropogenic activities was
reported. Evaluation revealed the mean range values of the following parameters; pH, 5.98 – 6.15,
turbidity, 2.10 – 7.90 NTU, total suspended solid (TSS), 0.70 – 5.40 mgL-1, total dissolved solid (TDS),
18.20 – 49.60 mgL-1, electrical conductivity (EC), 39.60 – 107.90 µScm-1, alkalinity, 20.0 – 34.0 mgL
1
, chemical oxygen demand (COD), 80.0 – 150.0 mgL-1, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 20.10 –
37.50 mgL-1, dissolved oxygen (DO), 2.82 – 4.68 mgL-1, chloride, 15.88 – 21.55 mgL-1, nitrate, 1.10 –
2.30 mgL-1, phosphate, 0.45 – 0.64 mgL-1, sulphate, 1.47 – 6.23 mgL-1, calcium, 1.668 – 2.053 mgL-1,
sodium, 2.169 – 3.327 mgL-1, potassium, 3.604 – 4.628 mgL-1, magnesium, 0.974 – 2.015 mgL-1, iron,
0.291 – 0.428 mgL-1, copper, 1.055 – 2.034 mgL-1, lead, 0.0001 – 0.011 mgL-1. The study, showed vital
physico-chemical and micro-biological properties not within water quality standard of the WHO, EPA
and NAFDAC as mean COD, BOD, Fe, Cu and Pb values exceeded permissible limits indicating the
need for treatment and monitoring by the Government, relevant regulatory agencies and parastatals to
ensure public health and safety. The pollution index result also confirmed the river polluted.
Citation:
Refrences:
1. Shah M. T., Ara J., Muhammad S., Khan S. and Tariq S. (2012), “Health risk assessment via surface water and sub-surface water consumption in the mafic and ultramafic terrain”. Mohmand Agency, North Pakistan. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 118: 60-70.
2. Olawale A. F., Oluwagbayide S. D. and Akinyika A. (2020), “Assessment of rainwater quality obtained from a suburban area of Nigeria based on the physico-chemical properties”. Techno Science, 3(2): 50-58.
3. Lamikanra A. (1999), “Essential micro-biology for students and practitioners of pharmacy, medicine and microbiology”. 2nd ed. Amkra books, Lagos, 406.
4. Nikoladze G. D. M. and Akastal S. (1989), “Water treatment for public and industrial supply”. MIR Publisher Moscow, 163.
5. Lemo O. O. (2002), “Bacteriology determination of water with long term storage”. (B.Sc Thesis), UNAAB Abeokuta, 40.
6. Tebut (1983), “Principles of Quality Control”. Pergamon, England, 235.
7. Ihekoronye A. I. and Ngoddy P. O. (1985), “Integrated food sciences and Technology for the tropics”. Macmillan press London, Oxford, 95 – 195.
8. Kolade O. A. (1982), “Shallow wells as supplementary sources of water in Nasarawa”. Gwon. Jos (M.Sc Thesis). Department of Geography and planning, University of Jos, Nigeria, 8 – 11.
9. Raymond F. (1992), “Le problame dis eandans le monde. Problems of water”. EB and SonsLtd., UK, 123 – 126.
10. Egereonu U. U. and Ozuzu C. I. U. (2005), “Physico-chemical analysis of river Niger at Onitsha bank, Nigeria”. J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria, 30 (2): 1 – 4.
11. Edema M. O., Omemu A. M. and Fapetu O. M. (2001), “Micro-biology and physico-chemical analysis of different sources of drinking water in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Niger. J. microbiol. 15 (1): 57 – 61.
12. Kulshreshtha S. N. (1998), “A Global outlook for water resources to the year 2025”. Water resources management 12(3): 167-184
13. Baroni, L., Cenci L., Tettramanti M. and Berati M. (2007), “Evaluating the environmental impact of various dietary patterns combined with different food production systems”. European journal of clinical nutrition 61(2): 279 – 286.
14. Egereonu U. U. (2003), “Water quality investigation of Njaba and Imo rivers, Imo State, Nigeria”. J. Asso. Adv. of modeling and simulation techniques in enterprises. 65(5): 59 – 73.
15. WHO (2010). Chemical safety of drinking water: assessing priorities for risk management.
16. Olawale A. F., Oluwagbayide S. D. and Akinyika A. (2020), “Assessment of water quality obtained from a suburban area of Nigeria based on the physicochemical properties”. Techno Science, 3(2): 50-58.
17. Cousins I., Sha B., Johansson J., Scheringer M. and Salter M. (2022), “How safe is it to drink water?”. https://theconversation.com/amp/howsafeisittodrinkrainwater-159383.
18. Khayan K., Husodo A., Astutii S. and Djohan T. (2019), “Surface water as a source of drinking water: health impacts and treatment”. J. Environ. & Public health. Article ID 1760950.
19. Zdeb M., Papciak D. and Zamorska J. (2018), “Assessment of the quality and use of surface water as the basis for sustainable water management in suburban areas”. E3S Web Conf. 45(00111).
