Study of Pollution Levels in Ahoada-ihuaba Axis of Sombreiro River, Ahoada Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water samples from the Sombreiro River were collected from ten different stations and analysed for some physico-chemical parameters. The physico-chemical parameters include temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, phosphate, Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen, sulphate, chloride, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Alkalinity and Hardness; some metals  also analysed  include: Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Iron II (Fe2+), Copper II (Cu2+), Zinc (Zn2+), Manganese (Mn2+) and Lead II (Pb2+ It was observed that the parameters measured were higher in value during the wet season (October) as compared to the dry season (December and January). These parameters were analysed using recommended standard methods. The sampling for this study was done thrice in three months of October, December and January. The metals analysed ranged as follows: Ca (0.65-0.75mg/L), Mg (0.12-0.23), Na (0.39-0.44mg/L), K (4.95-5.35mg/L) and Pb (0.05-0.21) respectively, all measured in mg/L. The analysis showed undetected levels of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu that had some trace levels in October at stations SB7 (0.O3mg/l) and SB8 (0.02 mg/I). The results obtained revealed that the Sombreiro River water had relatively low levels of pollution parameters except for Pb concentration and water bacteriology which were higher than the recommended limits set by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and by World Health Organization (WHO). The government, oil exploration companies and abattoir managers should ensure strict compliance to safety and environmental guidelines and laws to avoid surpassing recommended standard limits for dumping waste into surface waters. The implication of the data showed that the water from this river will not be suitable for drinking but could serve other useful domestic purposes.