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
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, 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:
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